For Student Ambassador Derek, volunteering at White Pony Express started as a simple requirement. But it quickly transformed into a lasting commitment to his community.
“I first started volunteering with White Pony Express because of a school project which required volunteer hours, and I happened to choose this place because I love food.”
Today, Derek is a familiar face around the warehouse. He describes his experience at WPE in three words: consistent, busy, and rewarding.
Over time, Derek has had a front-row seat to our incredible growth, especially in the amount of food donations WPE processes every day.
“I have seen White Pony Express grow in the variety of food they rescue. For example, they have Paris Baguette items, which I don’t remember WPE having when I first started.”
He has also become an important part of daily operations. Beyond sorting items and directing traffic to ensure pallets are fully packed, Derek regularly steps up to offer valuable technical insights to our team, such as content for WPE’s website.
“For me, working at White Pony gave me my first taste of ‘working’, which I will forever appreciate.”
While the warehouse is always busy, the reason Derek keeps coming back week after week is because of the people. Spending time at the front desk has allowed him to build strong relationships with volunteers, coordinators, and fellows.
“The community feels very authentic. Interactions with both staff and the volunteers just feel like good friends chatting.”
We are grateful for volunteers like Derek who bring their vibrant energy, ideas, and authentic selves to support WPE’s mission!
