04/15/2026
On any given day at Gather’s Community Food Center, the work begins early – shelves are stocked, meals are prepared, and a steady stream of people arrives seeking food and support.
Behind it all is a force of roughly 60 volunteers a day, quietly powering the organization’s ability to serve thousands of households across the Seacoast.
On Sunday evening, that collective effort was recognized at 3S Artspace, where Gather hosted a celebration of its large team of volunteers and awarded Portsmouth resident and retired engineer Dave Erickson its Volunteer of the Year.
“This recognition is really about all of us,” Erickson said. “You see how much this place matters to people, and once you’re part of it, you just want to keep coming back.”
Erickson’s role, like that of many volunteers, shifts depending on the day — from stocking shelves in the bright and colorful market-style pantry at Gather’s new Community Food Center on Heritage Avenue in Portsmouth — to cooking up hundreds of meals daily or assisting with food distribution. That flexibility is part of what allows Gather to operate at scale, said Steph Pellegrini, volunteer program manager.
“There’s always something that needs to be done,” Pellegrini said. “Our volunteers step into whatever role is needed — whether that’s behind the scenes or directly working with our community members. That adaptability is what keeps everything running smoothly.”
Gather’s Portsmouth facility is designed to feel more like a neighborhood market than a traditional food pantry, allowing individuals and families to choose their own free groceries with dignity. In addition to the pantry, the organization prepares meals, operates mobile markets, and offers programs aimed at reducing food insecurity and building stability.
That level of service requires constant coordination — and a dependable volunteer base.
Executive Director Anne Hayes said the organization’s growth in recent years has only increased its reliance on volunteers.
“We’re seeing more people come through our doors, and with that comes a greater need for support at every level,” Hayes said. “Our volunteers are essential — not just in helping us meet that need, but in creating a welcoming environment where people feel respected and cared for.”
Throughout the day, volunteers are embedded in nearly every aspect of operations — receiving food deliveries, organizing inventory, conducting data entry, picking up surplus food from restaurants and helping prepare meals in the kitchen. Pellegrini said many volunteers form lasting connections, both with each other and with the people they serve.
“It becomes more than just volunteering,” she said. “People build relationships here. They feel invested in the community and in the mission.”
For Erickson, that sense of connection is what keeps him coming back.
“You’re not just handing someone food,” he said. “You’re part of something that’s really making a difference in people’s lives.”
While Erickson’s recognition highlights his individual contributions, Gather leaders emphasized that the organization’s impact is rooted in collective effort.
As Gather continues to expand — including workforce training programs and other community-based initiatives — Hayes said the role of volunteers will remain central.
“This work happens because people show up,” she said. “Day after day, our volunteers make it possible for us to serve our neighbors in a meaningful way.”
Those interested in volunteering at Gather can sign up for training and shifts at www.GatherNH.org
Gather's Volunteer of Year award goes to a Portsmouth resident who joins many others in helping to alleviate hunger on the Seacoast.
