90 Volunteers Power 91,000 Meals in South Lake Tahoe

Every week in South Lake Tahoe, California, something remarkable happens when neighbors show up for neighbors. Over 90 volunteers with the Marcella Foundation are changing lives through two simple but powerful programs: helping kids learn to read and rescuing food for families in need.

The numbers tell an incredible story of what happens when a community comes together. Since August 2024, these volunteers have delivered 91,103 meals by rescuing over 109,000 pounds of surplus food from local businesses and getting it to families who need it most.

But the impact goes far beyond full plates. Through the ReadingPals program, volunteers spent 1,160 hours this school year sitting one-on-one with elementary students at Tahoe Valley Elementary School. The results speak for themselves: 70 percent of participating students improved their reading comprehension, and one in three gained three or more grade levels.

One volunteer noticed their young reading buddy transformed from stopping at every few words to "reading words and sentences with continuous flow." These are the quiet victories that don't make headlines but change the trajectory of a child's life.

The Marcella Foundation recently brought these volunteers together for an appreciation celebration at Cascade Kitchens. Executive Director Melissa Uppendahl reminded everyone that volunteers are "at the heart of everything we do," from helping a child discover the joy of reading to delivering food for a family in need.

The Ripple Effect

What started as a handful of volunteers has grown into a network of 90 community members who are creating change that extends beyond their immediate actions. Through their food rescue efforts alone, they've prevented 471,644 pounds of carbon emissions while feeding their neighbors.

The Foundation's work is about to expand even further. The Atrium, a new youth and community hub opening in the former Attic building, will bring the Foundation's Feed, Read, and Lead initiatives together under one roof. The space will include a community makerspace where local youth can design, build, and create through hands-on learning and mentorship.

The same volunteers who currently power FeedTahoe and ReadingPals will help launch these new opportunities for the next generation. One FeedTahoe volunteer captured the spirit perfectly: "It feels so good to rescue food and bless others with it."

In South Lake Tahoe, lasting change isn't coming from grand gestures but from neighbors investing in one another, one book and one meal at a time.