For many families, grandparents pass down treasured recipes, family stories, and beloved traditions. At the White Bear Area Food Shelf, some grandparents are passing along something else: a heart for serving others.
Every week, volunteers of all ages work side by side to ensure neighbors have access to healthy food and household essentials. Among them are grandparents and grandchildren who are finding that volunteering together creates memories, strengthens relationships, and teaches lessons that last a lifetime.
Growing Up at the Food Shelf
Bruce Nelson has been volunteering at the food shelf for more than 15 years. When his twin grandchildren, Levi and Evie, were young, he and his wife helped with childcare. As they got older, bringing them along to volunteer felt like a natural next step. Bruce comments, “I love bringing them.”
When the twins were younger, one of their favorite jobs was reading the menu and collecting items for food shelf guests. Now they enjoy taking on even more responsibility.
"Volunteering is not boring," they agreed.
Levi especially enjoys sharing coloring books and other items with children who come through the market. Evie admits one of her favorite parts of volunteering is visiting the volunteer break room, where volunteers can find candy, drinks, and supplies to help them through their shift. She also enjoys helping make sure visiting dogs receive a treat of their own.
Both appreciate being trusted with real responsibilities. "They like that they are trusted with a task and can do things themselves," Bruce shared. They also enjoy interacting with neighbors and helping push full food carts out to neighbors’ vehicles.
When asked what they would tell another child who might feel nervous about volunteering, their answer was immediate: "Do it! It's great. Everyone is really nice."
Wednesday with Grandma
For Cora, volunteering has become such an important part of spending time with her grandmother that she rearranged her schedule to make it happen.
Cora lives on a farm, but she asked her mom if her regular visits with Grandma Jeanne Kapeller could take place on Wednesdays so they could volunteer together at the food shelf. Like many first-time volunteers, Cora quickly discovered that food shelf work isn't always glamorous.
"The food shelf can be stinky," she admitted with a laugh. But having grown up on a farm, she says she's pretty used to unusual smells. What keeps her coming back is the variety.
She enjoys helping with Market Prep and likes that every shift brings something different to do. "It's interesting to see how many people are here helping and being helped," Cora said. "It's a lot."
When asked why others should volunteer, her answer was immediate: "You should volunteer because it is fun, you get to do interesting things, and you are helping people."
A Legacy That Lasts
At the food shelf, volunteers often take pride in the impact they make in the community. But these families remind us that volunteering impacts volunteers, too.
Grandparents have an opportunity to share their values through action, showing younger generations what it looks like to care for a community. And grandchildren bring energy, enthusiasm, and fresh perspectives that brighten every shift.
This Grandparents Day, we celebrate the families who volunteer together and the legacy they are building, one shift at a time. Through shared service, grandparents are creating more than memories. They are passing along compassion, kindness, and a commitment to helping others.
Interested in volunteering together?
Youth ages 12-15 can volunteer alongside an adult at Donation Sorting, Stocking, Market Prep, KidPack Assembly, Garden, and Free Produce Markets. Together, all generations can make a meaningful difference for local neighbors while creating memories and traditions that last a lifetime.
