New Bedford Volunteers Fight Food Insecurity Together

When Donna Gamble and Michael Spoor retired, they didn't slow down. They started showing up at The Salvation Army's soup kitchen several times a month to serve hot lunches to their New Bedford neighbors.

The couple's decades of service earned them Volunteer of the Year honors at The Salvation Army of New Bedford's Annual Volunteer Luncheon in April. Nearly 100 volunteers gathered at the event to celebrate their collective impact on a community facing serious food challenges.

The recognition comes at a critical time for the coastal Massachusetts city. Between 18% and 23% of New Bedford residents live below the poverty line, and roughly half of all households struggle to put food on the table.

That's where volunteers like Rommel Sanchez step in. He works at the food pantry several days each week, helping distribute groceries and essential items to families who need them. Sheila Santiago does the same, volunteering two to three days weekly.

Their work keeps vital programs running. The food pantry opens every Wednesday morning, and the soup kitchen serves meals Monday through Friday at lunch. Major Moises Muniz, who leads the local organization, credits volunteers with making these programs possible.

"Our volunteers are the heart of what we do in New Bedford," Muniz said. They help serve meals, stock pantry shelves, and raise money during holiday fundraising drives.

The Ripple Effect

The volunteer spirit extends beyond the soup kitchen and pantry. Members of Quittacus Masonic Lodge turned holiday fundraising into a friendly competition with a neighboring lodge. Their Red Kettle bells rang up $4,800 last year, money that directly supports New Bedford families.

These volunteers joined a growing movement across Massachusetts, where food insecurity affected about 40% of households in 2025 according to The Greater Boston Food Bank. Every meal served and every grocery bag packed helps close that gap.

The luncheon itself embodied the community spirit it celebrated. Riccardi's Italian Restaurant donated all the food, turning the recognition event into another act of generosity.

For Gamble and Spoor, who started volunteering at a homeless shelter back in the 1980s, the work speaks for itself. Showing up consistently, serving meals with dignity, and meeting neighbors where they are creates real change one plate at a time.