Giving Back, Moving Forward

Sasha Alexander, volunteer, and Linda LaVallie, Rachel’s Hope executive director.

By Alba Muñoz Saiz

A spotlight on local volunteers tackling food insecurity and keeping Austin’s nonprofits running.

Sasha stands behind the counter at Rachel’s Hope, folding donated baby clothes with practiced care. Years ago, she stood on the other side — a young mother seeking support. Today, she’s an intern completing her human services degree, a cancer survivor, and a vital member of the team that sustains Rachel’s Hope. “It’s humbling,” she says. “There was a time in my life I never thought I’d be on this side. Now I get to give back to the place that helped me raise my kids.”

Across Austin, volunteers like Sasha do far more than lend a helping hand — they form the backbone of local nonprofits. From food distribution to peer mentorship, they provide essential services and often bring valuable lived experience to their roles. Austin has a longstanding culture of volunteerism, and the Hometown Food Security Project aims to build on that foundation — expanding the reach of their efforts, showcasing their impact, and strengthening connections between organizations. Volunteers energize the city’s social services, showing up consistently, often without recognition, to meet needs that might otherwise go unmet.

Rachel’s Hope – A Found Family

Led by Executive Director Linda LaVallie, Rachel’s Hope operates with just three paid staff and more than a few dozen active volunteers who run the donation center, mentor young parents, and connect clients to services. Many, like Sasha, return to assist after receiving support themselves. “We wouldn’t exist without volunteers,” says LaVallie. “They’re the ones delivering advocacy, education and hope.”

Rachel’s Hope recently relocated from a 700-square-foot location to a 7,000-square-foot space, a change that expanded both their capacity and the scope of their services. “We had maybe 10 or 12 volunteers before,” LaVallie recalls. “Now we have over 30. It’s allowed us to serve so many more families.”

Rachel’s Hope Baby Boutique, where Parenting with Purpose clients get to “shop” for free each month.

The expanded space now resembles a boutique, with volunteers sorting and arranging donations while clients browse the store with dignity. “We see a lot of women who are new to town, who don’t have family nearby,” LaVallie says. “We try to be that family away from home.”

Some of the most dedicated volunteers are former clients themselves eager to reciprocate, creating an environment rooted in empathy. Retirees work alongside college students and stay-at-home parents in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. “You can feel it when you walk in,” says LaVallie. “We’ve created a space where people want to be.”

United Way – Building Systems of Support

A few blocks away on Monday afternoons, a well-orchestrated routine unfolds at the Hometown Food Security office. By 2:30 p.m., about two dozen community members arrive to unbox food, break down cardboard, and set up packing stations. At 3:45 p.m., they begin assembling nearly 800 bags, each destined to nourish a local student on weekends without school lunches. Volunteers then deliver the finished bags to schools throughout Austin and Mower County.

Program Coordinator for the United Way of Mower County, Velerie Faulhaber oversees this operation with precision, often bringing her own children to help. “Without them, I can’t pack a thousand bags in an hour. I make sure they understand that even a small effort makes a big difference.”

United Way of Mower County volunteers supporting the weekly Backpack Program.

The program attracts high schoolers fulfilling community service requirements and community members who participate continually. “We have students who start just to fulfill their requirements, but they keep coming back,” Faulhaber says. “Some of them even used to receive these bags as kids. That’s how powerful this is.”

Volunteer participation in the backpack program has surged 60% this year, from 452 last year to 723 currently. The “Get Connected” online platform and targeted outreach through schools, community groups and businesses including Hormel Foods and Mayo Clinic have fueled this growth. “It’s about making it fun and accessible,” says Faulhaber. “We maintain a positive environment, and that’s what keeps people returning.”

Thanks to this expanded volunteer workforce, the United Way team now provides snack bags for high school sports teams traveling to away games, acknowledging that hunger doesn’t pause outside school hours.

CLUES – Serving, in Community

At CLUES (Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio), the atmosphere is vibrant and deeply rooted in community connections. Most volunteers are Latino and Spanish-speaking, often coming from the same neighborhoods as the families they serve. They play a central role in organizing and distributing food. “They just know what to do,” says Food Access Coordinator Karla Rodriguez. “They take charge from start to finish.”

A shared meal with CLUES volunteers.

There’s music, laughter, and a shared sense of purpose. CLUES typically engages 70 to 80 volunteers each month. Regular volunteers like Dwayne — a disabled veteran who has been helping since 2020 and is known for his consistency and kindness — form the backbone of CLUES’ operation in Austin. The volunteer shifts often feel more like neighborhood gatherings, with people working side by side in a rhythm that reflects the energy, trust and shared purpose that define the community. Some volunteers, like Karla herself, even step in to support other programs around town. When United Way needed help covering preschool bus routes for its Rainbow Route program, Karla volunteered to ride along as a bus aide.

CLUES is intentional about creating volunteer opportunities that reflect and empower the Latino community. Many volunteers started as program participants and returned to help others, creating a powerful cycle of support. “They’re not just helping strangers,” Rodriguez explains. “They’re helping their neighbors.”

A Culture of Giving

Like many American communities, volunteering in Austin has rebounded from the pandemic-era decline. But thanks to an especially strong volunteer base, Austin is able to offer more than many communities its size. The recent surge in participation manifests not just in statistics but in community culture. Whether it’s a student returning to a program that once sustained them, a parent organizing donated items, or a longtime volunteer loading food into car trunks, each contribution strengthens Austin’s culture of compassion. As LaVallie puts it, “There’s not enough hours, time, or love in the day for just three staff members to do it all. Our volunteers are how this happens. They’re how we grow.”