Laughter fills the halls of Food Lifeline as dozens of bright eyed Microsoft interns take part in the process of sorting and packing food. Today, they’re just one small group of interns in a larger sea of helping hands that Microsoft is unleashing across the local area for their annual Day of Caring, a time where tens of thousands of employees, interns, and their families take time out of their schedules to give back to the community.
“I had an opportunity to talk to the coordinators at Microsoft while they were driving around to the different sites. They said that Food Lifeline had the most engaged and excited volunteers of the day!”, says Ariel Novick, Volunteer Engagement Manager for Food Lifeline.
The interns work at various non-profits and other charitable organizations across the local area, and their enthusiasm for Food Lifeline is undeniable. The interns pack and sort food with gusto, blasting classic rock music and making quick work of the pallets of food in front of them. In celebration of their efforts here at Food Lifeline, we encourage the interns to give us their thoughts on our white board in the volunteer lunch room. The responses speak volumes about the intersection of Food Lifeline’s mission, Microsoft’s philanthropic goals, and the empathy these interns have for those struggling with food insecurity in their community.
”It feels amazing to know that we’re making a positive impact on the local community!” Mentions one intern as she carries a huge box of fragrant apricots.
Spread across the various volunteer food sorting rooms in Food Lifeline’s Hunger Solution Center, the interns are all smiles. Some sort produce, others pack dry goods, and some decorate the white board as they eat their lunch. Food Lifeline relies on a large network of volunteers to feed millions of people each year. These interns are not only engaging in a volunteer experience that hopefully will allow them to grow as individuals, they are also performing a vital service for Food Lifeline, and their local communities. It’s days like this where it’s clear we’re all in this together. Or as one of the interns puts it:
“It feels great to get off the sidelines and make a difference!” 
