A Lot to Give Back: Suzanne’s Story
Curstyn Yoshimoto
Calling back on her past life experiences, Hawai‘i Foodbank volunteer Suzanne Marinelli finds purpose in giving back to her community
It’s no secret that the work we do at Hawaiʻi Foodbank would be impossible without the help of our dedicated volunteers. Last year alone, they gave over 30,500 hours of their time to supporting our efforts to nourish our communities experiencing food insecurity. Volunteer Suzanne Marinelli says it best: “Volunteers run the world. Without them, things would grind to a halt.”
Suzanne explains, “I experienced hunger as a child, so I have a lot of empathy for the people we serve at Hawaiʻi Foodbank. My grandparents raised me, and my grandfather would be absolutely wounded if someone came to our house and didn’t eat. So, I got that from him — I want to feed people.”
“My grandparents raised me, and my grandfather would be absolutely wounded if someone came to our house and didn’t eat. So, I got that from him — I want to feed people”
“I came to Hawaiʻi fleeing a broken heart in 1984, on a one-way plane ticket with a 13-year-old child. I didn’t know a soul, and I had never been here before,” she recalls. “I recognized early on that I am expensive for Hawai‘i — and that it’s my obligation to give more than I receive.”
After settling into her new life across the ocean, Suzanne’s household grew by one when she took in a hanai daughter — her daughter’s classmate — with open arms. To support her family, “I washed dishes; I typed for lawyers; I cleaned houses, all kinds of things. You do what you need to do to take care of the kids,” she explains. Now, enjoying retirement at 76, Suzanne says she wanted to donate some of her free time to something constructive, and the Foodbank was a natural choice.
Suzanne helps sort food donations on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at our warehouse, and affectionately speaks of her regular “Tuesday crew,” who’ve gotten to know each other well. “Every Tuesday when I come, I look forward to working with the same people. It’s interesting because sorting donations can be a chaotic process. But, as we learn more about one another, we can find our way in that dance, which is fun,” says Suzanne.
Though Suzanne didn’t grow up in Hawai‘i, she embraces the aloha spirit each week as she volunteers at Hawai‘i Foodbank. She’s shows up to each shift with a bright smile and a can-do attitude. “I’ve been given a lot — and have a lot to give back,” she says.
Though the need in Hawai‘i persists, our volunteers’ hard work and dedication allow us to provide important support to families and neighbors facing food insecurity – currently serving more than 170,000 neighbors each month.
“It’s an emotional nourishment that goes in both directions. It serves me to serve others.”
“I’m happy. I’m here to serve my community. I get pleasant interaction with other people I’m working with. But, the reason I’m here is to serve my community — and this gives me an excellent opportunity to do that. It’s an emotional nourishment that goes in both directions. It serves me to serve others,” she says.
For more information or to sign up for a volunteer shift, check out our check out our Volunteer page.
