Serving Our Seniors

Volunteers can help ensure older adults have access to food at Commodity Supplemental Food Program distribution sites.

Joseph Crews says he never has to wonder if he’s making a difference when serving at a North Texas Food Bank Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) distribution.

“Everything you do is valuable,” he says. “When you’re giving out food to people you can see right away the impact that you’re having and most of the recipients are very appreciative.”

Joseph is one of just a few regular volunteers who help distribute CSFP boxes, which are provided to low-income seniors in partnership with the Texas Department of Agriculture. Boxes contain non-perishable foods, and NTFB often supplements boxes with produce. NTFB served an average of 7,371 seniors each month in Fiscal Year 2025.

Martha Guerrero, Senior Manager of Programs, says they are grateful for volunteers who help keep monthly distribution sites running smoothly. They are also seeking additional community members who can commit to volunteering regularly at a CSFP site in their community. Along with helping to load boxes into cars, they are especially in need of volunteers who can assist with intake.

“This is a program that serves the most vulnerable of our seniors,” Martha says. “We are looking for additional committed volunteers to help orchestrate these sites.”

Rowena Roberson is NTFB’s Senior Programs Coordinator who has been serving with the CSFP program for nearly 26 years.

“For me, it’s the give back. You are serving older adults. Some of them at this point in their life may not have anyone, and they look forward to that one time a month when they come through and get their food and laugh and see you,” she says. “It’s a chance to establish a relationship with them.”

The CSFP program has grown substantially since Rowena began, now encompassing 18 sites across 12 counties. Rowena coordinates with NTFB’s truck as it delivers boxes to each site, coordinates volunteers, runs intake with neighbors and ensures each senior in line receives the food they need that month. When she has volunteers like Joseph there to assist, Rowena says the distribution always goes smoother.

Joseph and Rowena agree that the camaraderie of working with a team to complete the distribution is part of what makes the CSFP program fun.

“The gratitude that they give you—it’s just so rewarding,” Rowena says.

Martha adds that they work to train volunteers so they’re comfortable with the distribution, and that it helps if someone can commit to be at the same site each month. NTFB is grateful for people like Joseph who consistently serve, and Martha says the seniors receiving food are equally grateful.

“It is truly rewarding at whatever age to have someone call you by your name or to tell you how thankful they are,” Martha said. “By volunteering regularly at a site, you will become a part of the community.”

Interested in getting involved? Email programs@ntfb.orgor visit ntfb.org/get-involved.