Elisa Fleig is volunteer manager at Preble Street.

Each day, when I go to work, I have the honor and privilege of witnessing something truly extraordinary: the power of a community that comes together to help its neighbors in times of need. One of my favorite parts about this work is seeing how much can happen when people choose action over inaction, when they step forward to help wherever needed, and when they choose to volunteer their time to making another person’s day better.

Last October, as Preble Street celebrated the official grand opening of its Food Security Hub, the USDA announced it would be withholding SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) funds for the month of November.  Mainers who rely on SNAP were terrified about how they were going to feed their families. Many feared that they would have to decide between food and other essentials, including medications, rent and child care.

Like countless others in the community, we responded. Preble Street doubled our daily meal production almost overnight and greatly expanded the number of places we delivered food. As all of this unfolded, people from many different towns stepped forward in great numbers, rolling up their sleeves to help feed families and neighbors facing uncertainty.

That momentum carried into the new year when the ICE surge hit Greater Portland and the Lewiston area in January. Another wave of people signed up to volunteer. Preble Street added dozens of additional volunteer shifts to meet this increased demand for food, and they filled within minutes.

Thanks to these dedicated, quick-acting community members, we not only cooked and packaged  our regular 2,800 daily meals from the Preble Street Food Security Hub kitchen but also added on thousands of additional scratch-made, nutritious meals delivered directly to people sheltering in place.

As April marks National Volunteer Month, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for the many, many Mainers who contribute to making this state a place for all of us. Thank you to those who volunteer through organized programs like Preble Street, and to the thousands of Mainers helping neighbors, friends and family in countless informal ways.

Every act of kindness matters. Every hour you give, every meal you share, every hand you lend creates ripple effects that strengthen the fabric of our community. Each effort builds a stronger, more resilient society where everyone feels seen, supported and valued.

By volunteering, you give the most valuable resource there is — your time.

Time is not extra. It’s not leftover. It’s the thing our lives are made of. And you choose to spend part of yours helping your neighbors.

We are grateful for every volunteer who showed up — those who came once, unsure what to expect, yet gave their best; those who returned again and again, until their presence became part of the rhythm of both their lives and ours; and the individuals and groups who chose to spend their time together in service, transforming ordinary hours into acts of extraordinary care. 

 You embody the resilience, compassion and work ethic that Mainers are known for. As an immigrant and new American citizen, living in a place that rallies when it matters most fills me with pride, and it’s a reminder that together, we can create something far bigger than any one organization — a network of care that ensures no one faces hardship alone.