Even though she moved from Marana way over to the east side back in 2017, she still remains a loyal fixture in the MFB-CRC family. Her love for what she does and the people she has bonded with here is so strong that she drives across town every week to maintain her shift. That kind of sacrifice and commitment paints a simple but powerful picture of what she has brought to our organization. Even though she has left the community, she has made MFB-CRC an enduring part of her life. In addition to her regular shift, Jill for many years has also been a personal advocate, providing support and food assistance to a homebound client.

“Jill was a volunteer during my nine and a half years of employment at the Marana location,” Denise added, “and she is respectful, approachable, patient, and caring. I was fortunate to have her on my team.”

She came to Tucson with her family when she was 5 and has lived here for 73 years. She and husband Paul have been married 55 years. They have two sons and seven grandchildren. A retired librarian at Central Arizona College, she has volunteered with MFB for 14 years.

“In retirement I wanted to do something meaningful,” she said, “to have a reason to get out of bed. I believe in donating time and energy to a greater cause. People have helped me at different times in my life and so I wanted to give back.”

Sometimes clients will share their stories with her while she remains physically active loading food for them. “I want to make the clients feel comfortable about coming to the food bank for help,” she put it.

Just like the hobbies she embraces—yoga, Mahjong, Bunco, and her knitting group—Jill cherishes her volunteer experience along with the friendships.

“Volunteering is good for my mental health,” she says, “and it gives me purpose. I am comfortable in Marana and have made many friends here.”