When Amber moved back to Texas from New York in 2024, she was looking for ways to stay active, meet people, and spend time outside while searching for a job after graduate school.
She started volunteering in the Central Texas Food Bank warehouse, but once she found a spot for the Fresh Harvest Farm, she never looked back.
“I've been volunteering here ever since,” Amber said.
She regularly volunteers, helping plant, harvest, and care for fresh produce that will go directly to neighbors in Central Texas.
For Amber, one of the most meaningful parts of volunteering has been seeing fresh food grown right on-site before it’s distributed to the community.
“I think it's really made me appreciate this food bank specifically,” she said. “I know that fresh food is really hard to find for a lot of people who are going to food banks. And food banks have a harder time storing fresh food for long enough to get it to everyone. So, the fact that they grow the food here means that they can really get that fresh food out to everybody.”
Every volunteer shift brings something different.
“I think part of what I love about volunteering at the [farm] is you do different things every time,” Amber said. “It’s great working outside and working with our hands.”
What keeps her coming back week after week is that she gets to do something she already loves while helping others.
“I always have loved the planting and gardening,” Amber said, “but also just getting to do something I already liked in service of the community. It really just makes it even more joyful and purposeful.”
After volunteering on the farm, Amber was inspired to join a community garden near her home, where she grows vegetables and connects with neighbors who are also interested in sharing food locally.
“Me and the rest of the members are always talking about if we can get a bigger harvest from all of our plots, maybe we could do a little free farm stand for the neighbors and share the food that we've grown,” she said.
Amber’s story is a reminder that the impact of volunteering doesn’t stop when a shift ends. What began as a way to spend time outdoors and meet new people grew into a deeper appreciation for fresh food access and a desire to share that spirit of community in her own neighborhood.
Interested in volunteering with us? Learn more about volunteer opportunities on our Fresh Harvest Farm and sign up to get involved.
