A Harvest of Hope Leads to Greater Food Security

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Elizabeth Stanton. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light. 

Elizabeth Stanton first noticed the pressing need for food assistance in her community through her service with her church’s community pantry, the Blessing Box. For three years, she committed herself to stocking the pantry, an experience that offered a direct view into the lives of those struggling with food insecurity. Her quiet, consistent action revealed a stark truth: while the Blessing Box provided a vital lifeline, the need was far greater. Texas, she learned, ranks second in the country for food insecurity, a statistic that fueled her resolve to do more.  

Recognizing that many families were unaware of the resources available to them, Elizabeth took it upon herself to create a personal service project. She meticulously compiled lists of her town’s blessing boxes, food pantries, clinics and shelters, organizing them into easily accessible binders. She then distributed these binders to churches, schools and libraries, ensuring that anyone in need could find help quickly and with dignity. This initiative caught the attention of A Hopeful Harvest Food Pantry, who, inspired by her passion and organizational skills, asked her to join their board of directors. Now, with more than 500 service hours under her belt, Elizabeth’s work with the organization is making a measurable difference, helping to feed hundreds of families each week. 

Elizabeth’s volunteer duties are as hands-on as they are strategic. Every weekend, she dedicates her time to A Hopeful Harvest, where a “shopping-based” process allows families to choose their own food. In monthly board meetings, she helps shape the pantry’s future, discussing improvements, food items and safety protocols. Beyond her work with the board, she is leading a new project that will connect her school’s students with the pantry, allowing them to use their Spanish language skills to serve families.

Despite her expanding responsibilities, Elizabeth remains dedicated to the project that started it all. She continues to keep her resource binders updated and distributed, and every week, she shops for and stocks her church’s Blessing Box. This simple act remains a tangible way to provide a meal and a little bit of hope, no questions asked. Read more about how Elizabeth is nourishing her community. 

Tell us about your volunteer roles. 

I’m a member of A Hopeful Harvest board, so I contribute in meetings as we discuss how we can make things better at the pantry, planning out our food budget and more. I personally reach out to organizations for fundraising as well, including at the grocery store. And every Saturday during our 2-5 pm volunteering time, I’m there and helping with the shelves and the deliveries. Once a month, I shop for the pantry with the funds we’ve received. I love that experience because I can see what people have been taking from the pantry, what we need more of and less of. 

My main role is also in the nursery/play area. I love that we have this. It’s for smaller children to have someone watching over them and engaging with them while their parents and caregivers and shopping. It gives the families a bit of a break and gives the kids something to do. And then for the Blessing Box, which is through my church, every Monday, I go fill up the box with food and personal hygiene items.  

What inspired you to get started with these two initiatives? 

The Blessing Box has been part of my life for as long as I’ve been going to my church three or so years ago. It’s one of the ways I really got started in service. And then one of the members of A Hopeful Harvest board also goes to that church, and he recommended me for that role. I went to a meeting to try it out and never looked back. I love the people and love what they stand for. My role has continued to evolve from there.  

Why is battling food insecurity so important to you? 

It’s an issue close to my heart, since Texas ranks second in the nation for food insecurity. It’s a prevalent issue in our immediate community. It’s often overlooked. I’ve become really passionate about it. I’m able to be really connected to it. Food insecurity can happen to just about anyone at any time, and it’s so important to have these services and resources available to people in their times of need. It’s so prevalent, and having a pantry is so impactful for people when they’re going through that. 

What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization? 

I mentioned that A Hopeful Harvest has grown a lot, from being part of another food pantry to being their own organization with its own brick and mortar building. We’ve been giving out food on Saturdays, and our goal is to feed 100 different families each week, for a total of 400 families each month. So we’re focused on expanding our reach and absolutely filling our quota. Our numbers are growing more and more as the organization grows. 

As for The Blessing Box, I’ve seen how necessary it is for our community. As I was filling it yesterday, someone drove up to grab food from it. There are no questions asked, you can take whatever you need and leave what you can. I’d like to install more locations and more boxes. For my personal service project of distributing binders, I’d like to expand that out a little more to more locations as well. 

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work? 

Service is so important to me. Seeing the fruits of my labor is so rewarding. Seeing the impact, and seeing that this isn’t a one-and-done thing. We do this every week, so I get to see real-time impact on people. My favorite thing is going into the pantry and meeting all these people.  

I love the nursery too. The kids are so enthusiastic, and I like working with children. It’s so rewarding to grow this relationship with people and know that we’re positively affecting their lives through the resources we’re providing. 

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer? 

I’ve learned that there’s a lot of trial and error. Service isn’t easy. A lot of times, there’s a struggle to map it all out. It’s a constant process and flow. You’re adjusting to people’s needs. A really big thing is being aware of what the people you’re serving actually need, not just what you think they need. Maybe they don’t need 12 palettes of apple sauce you got. It’s noticing what the community actually needs and continuing to work toward the goal of meeting them. 

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about? 

Food insecurity can happen to anyone. I’m part of 4H, I’m part of Model United Nations. Knowing that I could start in a smaller area in my community, before branching out and taking steps up to bigger things on the state level, national level and international level, has been helpful. You make relationships and connections. One of my team members in the group said it was her dream to volunteer in a food pantry, and she’s never had that opportunity before. You have to look for it. 

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering? 

If you’re passionate about something, start by taking an active role. Ask other people. You may make friends in the process. Don’t be afraid to start small – it all starts with getting connected with people. If you’re passionate, why not put those feelings into action? 

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Elizabeth? Find local volunteer opportunities.