Bruce Jackson initially heard about Community Food Share through his church in Broomfield, which receives food from CFS to distribute to local people in need.

The food bank serves groceries to hundreds of families, students and elderly people in Boulder and Broomfield counties. CFS distributes food to pre-approved applicants through 77 human-service agencies and distribution programs.

Jackson has volunteered for CFS five days a week for the past four to five months. “They can use as many volunteers as they can get. It’s nice to do something for somebody else,” Jackson said. “If someone can come in and volunteer one day a week, they’re just tickled.”

Before retiring, Jackson worked for several airlines and drove commercially. He broke his neck and had to learn how to walk again. “I stayed around the house until I couldn’t stand it,” he said. “I get a lot out of this. I needed to be around people.”

Like many giving people, Jackson insists on giving others credit for their efforts as well. “They work awfully hard here,” he said. “There are so many people who work even harder than I do.”

“Bruce goes all day, and he is so hard-working,” volunteer coordinator Sue Ericson said. “He does routine jobs that normally have to be re-explained to different people several times a week. With Bruce, we do not need to retrain; just tell him once and he has it for three or four months. We can always count on him, and it is done right.”

Some of Jackson’s duties include restocking, sorting, checking dates, cleaning and repacking. “When I first got here, I thought I’d get caught up, but it never ends,” Jackson said.

“The best part of this for me is when I see people lined up outside with grocery carts and they’re so excited for milk and cottage cheese,” he added. “People like you and me take it for granted that we have enough food to eat.”

For information about volunteering with Community Food Share or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904, or go to our Volunteer Central.