‘Food is a right:' How one community leader is helping neighbors thrive

When Angela started volunteering at her local food bank in California in March 2020, she wasn’t thinking about a career path. Like many people at the time, she was looking for connection.

“I found a sense of community there and just some calmness,” she said.

A few months later, she stepped into a coordinating role, helping support weekly food distributions and getting to know the volunteers and neighbors who showed up week after week.

For Angela, food has always meant more than what’s on the table.

“Food to me means togetherness,” she said. “It’s a universal language that everybody can speak.”

That perspective shapes how she shows up for her community today. Angela still lives in the same neighborhood where she grew up, and she has seen how important it is for people to have consistent access to food and groceries, especially for neighbors facing food insecurity.

“It’s important because there are so many participants that are experiencing food insecurity,” she said. “Food should be a right. Nobody should go hungry.”

Across the country, the Feeding America network works alongside Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities to expand access to food in ways that reflect each community’s unique strengths and priorities. That work is powered by people like Angela, along with the volunteers who make it possible.

“None of this happens without the volunteers,” she said. “I’m always inspired by the people who come back week after week.”

For Angela, the impact of this work shows up in small, everyday moments. A familiar face in line. A quick conversation. Knowing someone has what they need for the week ahead.

“It makes me proud,” she said, “because I like to think this helps people move along in their journey in life.”

In communities across the country, leaders like Angela are helping make sure more neighbors can access the food they need to thrive.