Volunteer of the Quarter: Julia Durham, Mandy Eidson, Paige Mahaley, Joana Parkman and Camille Sims

What a difference a week can make! Three years ago, ACFB launched our first-ever Youth Leadership Summit. This week-long experience gives metro area high school students an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of the issues of hunger and poverty by participating in field trips, service projects, interactive classes, and more. The Summit empowers each student to create action plans to make a difference within their own communities. We have chosen as our Volunteers of the Quarter five prior Youth Summit participants who have truly taken their plans to heart.

Joanna Parkman's life was changed by her experience with the Summit. Not only does she continue as a Food Bank volunteer, but her entire family is now more conscious of the food they waste, and her Mom became inspired to participate in this year's Hunger Study. "After the Summit, I was motivated to put to use all the information I had learned," said Joanna. "Raising awareness of these issues is critical. I want to educate my community, and working at Food Bank events has allowed me to do this." Joanna will get the chance to do just that as she has recently been trained to teach ACFB's Hunger 101 courses.

Julia Durham wanted to be a part of the Youth Summit after hearing from her friends how amazing it was. Julia didn't know much about the Food Bank, but she came out of the week-long Summit with a whole new passion. "Working with the Food Bank has been such a reality check," said Julia. "I'm so blessed to have a family, a roof over my head and food on the table…at all times." One of her favorite quotes is "The only thing worse than ignorance is indifference." With her passion for educating others about the issues and her continued support of Food Bank activities, she is already making a big difference.

Camille Sims volunteered in soup kitchens for years, but wanted to be more involved, and the Youth Summit was the perfect outlet. "The Summit empowered me to affect and change lives by giving to my community," said Camille. "Becoming affiliated with the Youth Summit was the catalyst for my life-long commitment to fight hunger and poverty. It was a privilege and an honor to be in the first class participating in the Summit and it drives me to continue making a difference in the community and with ACFB. I believe my class led by example."

Mandy Eidson and Paige Mahaley (unavailable to be interviewed) have proved to be exceptional volunteers as well. Mandy was so inspired by the Summit that she created an Empty Bowls Girl Scout Gold Award Project to educate and empower others to help fight hunger and poverty. She has also volunteered at the Product Rescue Center, participated in Hunger Walk/Run, and served as an intern in the Volunteer Departner. Paige has participated in the Hunger Action Month Multi-faith Service and the FalCan Food Drive.

Volunteer Coordinators Barbara Overton and Suzanne Roush praise the efforts of each girl for using what they learned in the Youth Summit to help fight hunger and poverty in their communities.