Yolanda is a Concord resident, a member of the Food Bank’s Community Advocates Partnership, and a graduate of the Food Bank’s 2026 Voices for Change program. One of the things she valued most about the training program was hearing other participants’ stories and realizing that people are not alone in the challenges they face.

The experience showed Yolanda how people from different generations and cultures can come together through shared experiences and support one another. It also strengthened her belief that, although people may sometimes be judged for their circumstances, compassion can unite a community. Yolanda believes that when help is needed, people can come together as one and make a difference in each other’s lives.