Volunteer Spotlight: Maureen Piccillo Making a Difference at Doylestown’s Food Pantry At Bucks County Housing Group, our mission to end hunger and homelessness would be impossible without the dedication of our incredible volunteers. Among them is Maureen Piccillo, whose passion for serving the community shines through her volunteer work at our Doylestown food pantry. With a heart full of compassion and a commitment to helping neighbors in need, Maureen has become an invaluable part of our team, making a real difference in the lives of those facing food insecurity. Her story is one of kindness, generosity, and a shared belief in building a stronger, more supportive community. A Day in the Life at the Food Pantry Like most volunteers at our pantries, Maureen’s responsibilities vary day-to-day. For example, Tuesday could entail inspecting and bagging freshly donated produce, but Wednesday is all about setting up for the evening’s distribution. Though she has many valuable skills, Maureen is most famous for her warmth and personable demeanor when interacting with clients. Incidentally, that’s also one of Maureen’s favorite parts of volunteering. “The most rewarding part is the interaction with the clients. They always give me a smile and a thank you. Not only do they thank us for the food, they thank us just for volunteering,” Maureen says. “Recently, a woman asked if we had any special dessert items because it was her birthday. I was able to give her a beautiful chocolate mousse that a local grocer donated. She was so happy to get it and said it made her day.” Small gestures like this demonstrate the profound impact we can have when our community works together. Understanding the Needs of Our Community Though we may not realize it, there are many families in Bucks County facing food insecurity. In 2022, Feeding America found that 56,670 individuals in our community were considered food insecure. Our Doylestown and Penndel pantries strive to alleviate that insecurity, but there is still more work to be done. Maureen shared some valuable insight gained through her time volunteering. “Living in Bucks County, we can be unaware of the many, many individuals and families that live among us who rely on the pantry to provide even the most basic of necessities. More importantly, we all must realize that anyone can experience a life changing event (economic, personal tragedy, or family situation) that transforms us and puts us in a position where we require help.” Follow Maureen’s Lead Get involved! When asked what she’d say to someone considering volunteering for the first time, her advice was simple and direct. “Do it! It can be one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. The volunteers that I work with have been here for years. It’s a testament to their commitment, as well as their love for the work.” We are always in need of volunteers and donations at our pantries, and your contribution will impact the people in our community who need it most. As Helen Keller famously said, “alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Volunteers like Maureen embody this collaborative spirit with the work they do in the name of generosity and mutual aid. If you’d like to join Maureen in our fight against hunger and homelessness in Bucks County, you can sign up to volunteer at a food pantry or donate. Related