SEPTEMBER 2025

News & Announcements

For the rest of September, we invite you to wear orange to your volunteer shift(s). Snap a photo, share it on social media, and tag us-we'd love to see it! If you are able, we'd also welcome and appreciate it if you would bring food donations along with you to your shift.

Thank you for standing with us this month to build food-secure communities for all neighbors.

You’re Always Welcome at Our Table

You’re Always Welcome at Our Table: Insights and inspiration from Second Harvest CEO Eric Aft—just for you, our volunteer community. PLEASE JOIN US!

You're invited to a special monthly conversation series with Eric! Whether you'd like to discuss your role as a volunteer in our organization, or simply listen and learn more about our work, this is a his is a wonderful opportunity to connect, ask questions, and be part of the dialogue.

We kick off this series with two meeting options (select one) at our headquarters in Winston-Salem (3330 Shorefair Drive).

Monday, September 15, 4:15 PM - 4:45 PM
Friday, September 19, 8:15 AM - 8:45 AM

Please be sure to RSVP at the button below. Light refreshments will be provided!

The school year is in full swing, and we’re sending our appreciation to the incredible educators, administrators, and students from Boone to Burlington and beyond who make it all happen.

As School Pantry, BackPack, and After School Meals programs ramp up, we’re proud to support our partners ensuring every child has access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.

Support our work feeding children and families!

Attention Volunteers!

Food Sorting at both our Winston-Salem and Greensboro locations will be closed from September 29 through October 3 while we process some upgrades to our warehouse software. Please be aware that we may need to extend this closure a few days prior to, or after, this week to ensure work is completed. We appreciate your patience! We will primarily communicate schedule changes through Bloomerang, so this is a good reminder to make sure your notifications are turned on.

Volunteer Spotlight

Jubiny Chirinos (third from left)

From Community Service Volunteer to Chef

In May, Jubiny Chirinos arrived at our warehouse for his first day of Food Sorting, hoping to help feed people while completing his 20-hour community service requirement. As he passed the windows looking into our Providence Culinary Training kitchen, Jubiny was struck by the sight of students learning in a state-of-the-art space. Curious, he later found one of the students and asked about the program. An electrician by trade who also runs a weekend catering business, Jubiny said he felt like “destiny had brought me to Second Harvest.”

Second Harvest team members noticed Jubiny's strong work ethic, and he quickly completed his volunteer requirement. But he wasn’t gone for long—soon he returned to Second Harvest, this time as a Providence Culinary Training student. He has completed the basic culinary course and has now entered the advanced course, saying that he has “appreciated every single day” of his training. His goal after graduation is to take his catering business to the next level with a sandwich food truck.

Fun Fact: Jubiny is also a professional musician, performing everything from jazz to latin to pop hits at many types of events!

Jubiny’s story is a great reminder of the two-way street of volunteering: our volunteers give in meaningful ways and receive just as much in return, regardless of what brought them to us. These links highlight just a few of the programs and resources available to our neighbors:

· Providence Culinary Training

· Distribution and Logistics Training

· Food Assistance Programs

· SNAP Application Assistance

· Nutrition Education Services

You Make This Possible!

We’re so grateful to every volunteer who has stepped up to support our summer meals efforts. Because of your time, care, and commitment, 136,517 meals reached children and families who needed them most. Each meal is more than food—it’s comfort, energy to play and learn, and a reminder that our community cares.

More Ways to Get Involved

Food Hall Invasion

A long time ago (okay, last year), we invited you to a celebration that was out of this world. This year, the stakes are even higher. As programs that nourish our neighbors are being cut, the mission to feed our community has never mattered more.

Join us for an evening of flavors, fun, and fierce community spirit. Because this isn’t just a food hall—it’s a force for good.

Buy Tickets!

Tell Your Volunteer Story to NPR

While fewer Americans are volunteering now than in the past, the need for volunteers to help in places like soup kitchens or with disaster relief hasn't diminished. At the same time, volunteering has been shown to improve mental health, increase longevity, and broaden civic engagement.

Tell NPR your story about how unpaid, volunteer, or community work has made a difference in your own life.

Learn More Here!

Ardmore RAH!

The Annual RAH! features a fun run, an untimed 1 mile walk/run, a timed 5K and a 10K through the historic Ardmore Neighborhood of Winston Salem, NC. This race is designed for everyone, from lightening-fast runners and avid athletes to power walkers and first-time participants.

Not a runner? Volunteer! The RAH! could not happen without the help of our volunteers! Click the link below to sign up for one of the many volunteer positions!

Volunteer Photo Gallery

See More Pictures

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC 3330 Shorefair Drive, WS | 336.784.5770 | SecondHarvestNWNC.org