Volunteer Spotlight: Bill Robert

April 23, 2025

Madison Heagele, Communications Intern

The Food Bank of Delaware is full of eager volunteers who are passionate about giving back to their community. One standout is Bill Robert, a highly involved volunteer with a big personality and a lifetime of stories. He’s coached countless soccer teams over the years and faced his share of life’s challenges.

Bill grew up in Southwest Philadelphia and often reflects on how life in Delaware is very different from the environment he knew growing up.

When asked about his favorite part of volunteering, Bill doesn’t hesitate: it’s helping people. He first learned about the Food Bank during a trip to Wildwood, New Jersey, with a friend. Since then, he’s committed to volunteering every week—two days, like clockwork. “Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11 to 1. I have a good time. When I go home, I feel happy that I did it.”

Bill encourages others to give volunteering a try, emphasizing how rewarding it is. “It’s a good feeling. It’s not something that makes you go, ‘What the heck? What are you doing here?’”

A deeply spiritual person, Bill believes that despite our differences—religion, background, or beliefs—we’re all connected. “We all have one thing that put us on this planet,” he says.

Bill’s motivation for giving back is simple: to help others. “I’m helping the community, helping the people in it, knowing that I did my share and helped out.”

Even after a bladder cancer diagnosis, Bill remains active and upbeat. “I’m still alive because I kept myself active, kept moving, kept running. I used to run up and down the soccer field with 20-year-olds, 18-year-olds, high school and college kids—and I loved every minute of it.”