If you volunteer at one of our warehouses, you’re certain to meet one of our Food Sorting Coordinators: Isabelle, Claudia, Jose, Leonard, Fernando, or Melvin.
What do Food Sort Coordinators do at the Food Bank?
Together, this team keeps our volunteer centers in Concord and Fairfield clean, organized, and running safely and smoothly. Their duties include helping volunteers check in for shifts, and providing them with all the information and supplies they need to box, bag, or sort food for our neighbors in need.
What safety and hygiene protocols are in place for food handling?
Food Sort Coordinators train volunteers on Food Bank hygiene guidelines before starting any task. These guidelines include how to safely handle produce and dispose of spoiled produce items. Hand washing stations, hand sanitizer, gloves, and optional masks are available in both volunteer centers.
Read on to get to know the members of our food sorting team…
Isabelle Balderas, Food Sorting Coordinator
What’s the most unusual or surprising item you’ve ever found in a food donation?
A plastic bag full of unused sauce packets like ketchup and hot sauce.
If you could invite any celebrity to volunteer with you for a day, who would it be and why?
I would invite the entire cast of Abbott Elementary because it’s my favorite show right now. Everyone seems so kind and hilarious and it would be so entertaining to have them around, and I would want them to write a whole episode based on their experience at the Food Bank.
What’s the funniest or most memorable moment you’ve had as a Food Sort Coordinator?
Last year a friend from high school, who I hadn’t seen in 10 years, came to volunteer with their family. It was so surreal catching up with them and realizing how long it’s been.
Claudia Garcia, Food Sorting Coordinator
What’s the most unusual or surprising item you’ve ever found in a food donation?
One unusual donation item I have seen would probably be baby formula, as that does not happen often with our donations.
If you could invite any celebrity to volunteer with you for a day, who would it be and why?
The actor Tobey Maguire. He played the superhero Spiderman – and all our volunteers and employees at the Food Bank are superheroes too. We are all helping people that need the most important thing in the world, which is food. And also who doesn’t like Spiderman?
Jose Segura, Lead Food Sorting Coordinator
What’s the most unusual or surprising item you’ve ever found in a food donation?
The most unusual item that I found was an inflatable boat.
If you could invite any celebrity to volunteer with you for a day, who would it be and why?
If I could invite a celebrity to volunteer it would have to be Michael Jordan, the best player of the history in basketball.
Leonard Russo, Food Sorting Coordinator
If you could invite any celebrity to volunteer with you for a day, who would it be and why?
George Lucas, because he created Star Wars!
Fernando Samra, Food Sorting Coordinator
What’s the most unusual or surprising item you’ve ever found in a food donation?
Police evidence for a court case and canned alligator meat.
If you could invite any celebrity to volunteer with you for a day, who would it be and why?
The actor Keanu Reeves. He is a strong advocate for human rights and feeding the homeless.
What’s the funniest or most memorable moment you’ve had as a Food Sort coordinator?
A lady came to drop off food and wanted to donate a box of Cheez-Its she had been eating out of.
Melvin Oliver, Lead Food Sporting Coordinator / Shipping and Receiving
What’s the most unusual or surprising item you’ve ever found in a food donation?
Alligator meat and food from the 1970s.
