The Capital Area Food Bank offers a variety of programs and has a great mix of staff and volunteers that manage them. The diverse environment coupled with the mission to feed those in need, makes the food bank a popular place for young people to begin their careers or complete volunteer hours. The food bank is a hub for food distribution and provides creative nutrition education programs, while also providing invaluable experiences for employees that can’t be found anywhere else.
The numerous young people who work at the food bank bring new ideas and energy. Meet three young people who are dedicating their time and skills to the food bank – Maria Booker, Dylan Menguy and Abbie Steiner. Read their stories below:
Abbie Steiner
Hello! My name is Abbie Steiner and I’m from Colorado. I ended up in DC by way of my home state of Colorado, college in Wisconsin and volunteer work in India. I spent a year at the food bank’s partner agency DC Central Kitchen doing community development work with their national program and helped launch their “Truck Farm.” At the food bank, I have the opportunity to be an educator and am currently focused on our urban demonstration garden. I think the food bank is a dynamic place to work. The people are great and I love that I get to strengthen communities through food education. Maria Booker
Hello! My name is Maria Booker and I’m the new addition to the development office. My first encounter with the food bank was in high school when my dad and I volunteered on weekends. Now, I’m back working full time as a grant writer. When I began my job search, I was drawn to the Capital Area Food Bank because it offered a lively work environment that would let me tie in a career with service to the community. I spent time in Ukraine working on youth development and writing grants, so grant writing at the Capital Area Food Bank sounded like a great way to start a career of service. Working at a non-profit organization that does so much for the region I grew up in is also a big plus. My favorite part of my job is learning from people of varied backgrounds and experiences, which allows me to get a mixture of perspectives. Dylan Menguy
Hello! My name is Dylan and I’m from New York State. I came to the food bank as a member of the Brethren Volunteer Service. My passion for food and nutrition, coupled with my interest in non-profit work, led me to the Healthy Eating department. I’m here as a volunteer for one year and get to work with the Healthy Eating Department to support the food bank’s mission of nourishing those in need. There are so many opportunities here at the food bank that young people might not get at a corporate or entry level job elsewhere.