This month, we’re excited to spotlight our Client Service Coordinator, Janilice Rivera, who recently dedicated her time to volunteer with Feeding Tampa Bay—a valued nonprofit partner in our network committed to building thriving, food-secure communities.
Feeding Tampa Bay’s mission goes far beyond distributing meals. Through people-focused, innovative solutions that expand access and strengthen families, the organization works to break the cycle of hunger. Each year, Feeding Tampa Bay serves roughly one million people across the region. This incredible impact is made possible by the dedication of 5,000 volunteers every month—a powerful reminder of how meaningful community action can be.
Connecting Community Service to Our Mission
Janilice was inspired to volunteer at a new organization this year after regularly serving with her local church. When her mother’s employer opened a volunteer opportunity at Feeding Tampa Bay to staff and their families, she jumped at the chance to support a cause that directly serves the Tampa Bay community.
She spent the day working alongside a team of 12 volunteers in a temperature-controlled storage area, checking expiration dates and sorting perishable foods into categories. While completing these tasks, she reflected on ReEmployAbility’s mission—to help injured workers get back to meaningful work with nonprofit organizations while they recover. Experiencing the work firsthand helped her imagine how injured workers with different physical abilities could perform similar tasks at local food banks.
With collaborative roles like sorting and verifying dates, she realized that many injured workers could contribute meaningfully with proper accommodations. The experience offered valuable, hands-on insight into the types of modified duty opportunities available through our Transition2Work program.
For Janilice, one of the most meaningful moments came from seeing just how much food could be safely recovered and redistributed. “It was rewarding to see all the food that was still salvageable according to the FDA guidelines and knowing that it would be going to families who needed it that very same day, free of charge,” she shared.
During the volunteer briefing, she learned that many items remain safe for consumption even after their “best by” dates, depending on the type of product. Volunteers received detailed FDA guidance outlining how long various foods remain viable—helping prevent thousands of pounds of good food from going to waste. One example especially stood out to her: boxes of Christmas tree-shaped butter. Though out of season, they didn’t expire until March—still completely safe and ready to help feed local families.
Moments like these gave her a deeper appreciation for the care and precision that goes into ensuring families receive safe, high-quality food everyday.
Inspiring Others to Serve Their Community
Janilice believes that anyone considering volunteering should take the leap. “Start small and find something with a mission close to your heart. When you’re passionate about it, you’ll want to do more and more for the community. When you join forces with others, together you can accomplish so much more than any one person could do alone,” she stated.
She also highly recommends Feeding Tampa Bay to anyone looking for a place to give back. With opportunities ranging from sorting food and preparing meals to greeting guests and assisting in their market, there’s a role for everyone—and volunteer shifts are easy to sign up for on the organization’s website.
During her time on site, Janilice also made a valuable connection by obtaining direct contact information for a volunteer coordinator. Establishing this relationship opened the door for ReEmployAbility to partner more closely with the organization, making it easier to identify safe, appropriate roles for injured workers participating in our Transition2Work program. Thanks to her connection, she was able to match and place an injured worker in a volunteer assignment—helping them remain active, productive, and engaged in the community during their recovery.
Her initiative not only supported Feeding Tampa Bay’s mission but strengthened our own network, creating new opportunities for injured workers to engage in meaningful return-to-work.
To learn more or get involved with Feeding Tampa Bay visit their website: https://feedingtampabay.org/
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