Today we are highlighting Sanabil, one of our amazing volunteers!
Sanabil has held many different volunteer roles at Food Banks Mississauga – a real ‘Jill’ of all trades! She has helped with food sorting and cardboard management and volunteered with our ReclaimFRESH food rescue program. She has raised funds both as an ambassador and as a lead at our Grocery Store Blitzes and has helped folks file their taxes as part of our Tax Clinic. She’s also shared her joyful personality with the community by being a Special Events Ambassador and a Mascot handler!
“Volunteering makes me feel like an active and helpful part of my community. Every dollar, every tap, and every food item I succeed in encouraging someone to donate gives me a sense of relief—knowing that one more person won’t be going to bed hungry this week.
I grew up poor, so I have firsthand experience of what it is like to struggle to put food on the table. That experience motivates me to help however I can; no one should go to bed hungry or worried about their next meal.
Sanabil first joined our volunteer team at Food Banks Mississauga last November, shortly after arriving in Canada. She didn’t have a job, and she didn’t know anyone and was looking for ways to build connections in her community. During a newcomers’ workshop, Sanabil was encouraged to volunteer as a way to learn more about Canada and make connections. With a lot of time on her hands and a deep desire to contribute to her new community, Sanabil did a quick Google search and found Food Banks Mississauga.
When asked whether she was surprised by anything when she first started volunteering, Sanabil shared:
“Not really. I’m not new to this line of work—I grew up around something similar. My mother worked at a charity from 1999 until her retirement in 2023. A big portion of her job, especially in the earlier years, involved handling donations and organizing food and money distributions, with some involvement in advertising. I grew up watching her do this work, and once I was old enough, I started helping out too. Eventually, I even volunteered at the same charity myself for a couple of years during school/university breaks.”
Sanabil thinks Food Banks Mississauga is a special place to volunteer. She has found a continuous sense of welcome, support, and appreciation with every one of the volunteering roles she has held over the past number of months.
“Food Banks Mississauga is non-religious and apolitical. I am not saying that other nonprofits have religious or political agendas or that they limit their support to certain parts of the community. I am simply saying that Food Banks Mississauga’s mission and values align perfectly with my own. It is inclusive, welcoming, and focused purely on helping people.”
When asked why others should volunteer at Food Banks Mississauga, Sanabil responds:
“Everyone will need help in some form eventually, so why not pay it forward?”
Volunteer with us!
Sanabil is a perfect example of the variety of ways you can volunteer with Food Banks Mississauga! To see what roles we are currently seeking volunteers for, click here.
