Volunteer Spotlight: Alan Anselman Aims to Improve His Community by Fighting Hunger

The retired professional wants to use his free time to help others.

Before retiring in January 2024, Alan Anselman started making plans.

“I knew that when I retired, I didn’t want to sit home and do nothing,” he says.

Lennox, the company where he served as Vice President of Supply Chain Operations, is a supporter of North Texas Food Bank so the organization was already on Alan’s radar. He signed up to pack and box food for his neighbors facing hunger that first month of his retirement and soon moved to the Food Donation Door where he catalogued food being dropped off by donors.

It was there that he found his crew. He noticed fellow volunteers nearby working hard but also having a good time sorting the food that had just been dropped off. He had to complete a food safety course to join them, so he did just that and is now part of the regular group that sorts donations on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

“It’s demanding, physical work, but we help each other out and laugh and joke and figure out how to have fun,” Alan says. “When I get done, I feel satisfied that I’ve done my part to help out.”

In just 14 months, Alan has given more than 240 hours to NTFB.

“Alan is very dependable and a hard worker,” says Volunteer Specialist Riley Mainord. “When we are in need of extra help at our donation door, Alan is our go to guy!”

Alan says giving back was a natural next step for him.

 “I was really fortunate in my career. We’ve always lived very comfortably and never experienced food insecurity, but I know it’s out there. I wanted to give back to the community,” he explains.

Along with spending two mornings most weeks at NTFB, Alan and his wife deliver meals to homebound seniors through Meals on Wheels and Alan volunteers with Streetside Showers, which provides mobile showers and hygiene to those in need.

“The more we can help organizations like this, the better our community will be,” Alan says.

When they’re not giving back, Alan and his wife enjoy traveling and listening to Blues music. For those with free time, Alan says to sign up for a volunteer shift.

“You might like it enough that you just continue,” he says. “If you don’t like what you did, try something else here or try a different organization.”

North Texas Food Bank is recognizing some of its ardent supporters during National Volunteer Month in April. To learn more about volunteering with NTFB, click here.