In a recent volunteer event at an Early Careers offsite, organized in collaboration with the Greater Twin Cities United Way, Maria Gonzalez, a Wells Fargo technology analyst, encapsulated her emotions in what could be described as an effervescent blend of shock, joy, and advocacy.
“I learned that Minnesota continues to encounter one of the worst opportunity gaps in the U.S. for people of color, something I was unaware of, having moved to the Midwest this past summer,” she explains. The program — called Flavors of our Community — improves access to culturally specific pantry items for different communities experiencing food insecurity.
“I knew of the existence of food pantries since the first time I volunteered for Feeding Children Everywhere (now U.S. Hunger) when I was in high school,” Maria says. “But what I never imagined was the immense role that food pantries play in communities with food insecurity.”
The volunteers prepared pantry kits for Latinx, Afghan, and Southeast Asian families. Maria says through the volunteer event, underserved communities will no longer feel excluded or forgotten because they will have access to foods they know and are accustomed to eating. The United Way says many families in these communities' face barriers to accessing basic food items that aligned with their cultural practices and dietary preferences. Maria also learned that food shelves in Minnesota had more than five million visits.
“Honestly, this number stunned me,” she says. “As an immigrant and a person of color, I’ve always been aware of the challenges that my community and other vulnerable communities face when it comes to food, education, and health, but I had not stopped to look at the nation-wide statistics until after this event.”
Helping to close the gap
Maria's efforts were more than just a volunteer event. It was an opportunity to create meaningful change in the lives of those who have been overlooked and underserved by providing culturally specific foods and spices. Maria and her colleagues were not only filling a gap in essential needs, but also empowered families to create nutritious meals that were reflective of their cultural practices and preferences — an immediate and tangible impact.
“This activity also helped me gain a sense of hope and community. As an immigrant from the Latinx community, I realized that we are starting to be seen, not just us, but all the other ethnically diverse groups within our community,” she explains. “This may not seem important for some people, but food is a significant part of culture, it brings us and our ancestors together.”
Hope and community
Maria says she will continue to work to build a stronger sense of community and connection among diverse groups of people. Her commitment to serving others is admirable, and her efforts have made a real difference in the lives of many. Her story is an inspiration to us all, and we can all learn from her example of selflessness and dedication to helping others.
The team’s efforts were successful — leading to 500 pantry packs assembled and ready to go to serve as an important centerpiece at a family’s dinner table. The total weight was 1,526 pounds of food. Food banks, food shelves and other hunger-relief organizations calculate that one pound of food is equivalent to 1.2 meals. Using that calculation, the volunteers produced the equivalent of 1,272 culturally specific meals for the community served by NorthPoint Health and Wellness. The volunteering took place in March, which is also Minnesota FoodShare Month.
“After this activity, I understood that pantry items, like many things in life, should not be a ‘one size fits all’, she says. “It’s not about assimilation, it’s about identifying the gaps across different communities and catering for their specific needs.
The biggest win
Maria says she appreciates being able to participate in activities that only happen during the work week that otherwise she would not be able to join. With 16 hours of paid community service a year, Maria says Wells Fargo makes it easier to give back to her community.
“This (the event) tells us that Wells Fargo does not see volunteerism as an afterthought, it’s not just an activity that employees can do on their free time," Maria says. “Rather, it’s seen as an important activity, and the fact that this is accounted for in our time sheet demonstrates that Wells Fargo understands the value of community service for our personal and professional growth.”
Recalling her experience, Maria feels grateful and happy knowing families are getting the support they need. “I will make it my goal to either find and partner with an organization that addresses culturally specific needs or organize a similar food drive,” she says.
How Wells Fargo supports underserved communities
Learn more about Wells Fargo’s efforts to support historically marginalized communities.