SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — With volunteerism declining, this 81-year-old serves as an inspiration.
Anita Sundelin volunteers every week at the Snohomish Community Food Bank. The number of volunteers across the country has been steadily declining for decades.
Anita Sundelin makes sure all who need it are given their daily bread at the Snohomish Community Food Bank.
"We all know people need bread," Sundelin said. "All people need food."
The food bank is seeing needs rise nearly every month.
Snohomish feeds 800 to 1,000 people per week. That's up 15% in the past six months alone.
The place survives on volunteers. Right now they're down about 10 positions.
"It's a lot of work sometimes," Sundelin said, with a smile on her face. "But it's worth it."
At 81 years old, Sundelin joyously volunteers at the food bank every single Monday, getting ready for the week's food distributions.
The retired nurse of four decades has done this every week for the past four years.
"I just felt like, 'What am I going to do with my life?" Sundelin said. "I need to do something for other people."
Sundelin serves as an inspiration in her community.
Hers is an inspiration needed across the country.
Nationwide, volunteering has been dropping for more than a decade. Those numbers are continuing to decrease as the need continues to grow.
Everything from fire departments to animal shelters has seen their volunteers dwindle.
In 2023, Washington's biggest hunger relief agency, Northwest Harvest, reported a 75% decrease in volunteers since the pandemic.
The belief is high prices have people working more just to keep their heads above water -- leaving them less time to help others.
Student debt is an obstacle.
Also, one of the biggest groups of volunteers is young families.
These days, people are waiting longer to get married and have children, leaving the volunteer pool even shallower.
Snohomish Community Food Bank volunteer coordinator Robin Rotondo said that where there is a will, there is a way to volunteer.
"If you work, we have things on the weekend and after hours," Rotondo said. "We try to find room for anybody who wants to volunteer here. It can be an hour a week and we can find a spot for you. Anita is 81! She is such an inspiration!"
Sundelin encouraged her friends at Brookdale Assisted Living to help out if they can.
But even at 81, she realizes not everyone is as spry and motivated as her.
In her mind, if you have anything at all to give, you have much more than so many others.
"These people cannot afford to go to grocery so they come here and they don't have to pay for it, and I get to help them," Sundelin said. "How much better can that be?"