Volunteer Spotlight: Nicole Tarantino

April 11, 2025

By Madison Heagele, Communications Intern

The Food Bank of Delaware is bustling with passionate volunteers eager to give back to their community. Nicole Tarantino has been a volunteer with the Food Bank of Delaware for over 5 years. She wears her pins on her vest as a badge of honor for all the hard work and dedication she has put into her service. She has over 700 hours of volunteer hours for the Food Bank. 

“My favorite part about volunteering at the Food Bank is that it helps me help myself. It makes my heart feel good and that is why I do it” she says. Nicole started coming to the Food Bank as a resource. On her second visit she saw a sign that said volunteers were needed. “So I figured, why not? I’m not working and it helped me being here so much,” Nicole explains.

She was going through a low point in her life. “When I started volunteering in the Healthy Pantry and talking to people hearing their situations, I just knew I was in the right place. I just love it here so much you don’t even understand. I could go on and on about this place,” she says.  

Nicole encourages other community members to get involved. “Besides the joy that you get for yourself, you’re spreading that joy to others and helping others in the process.”

She has noticed that some people are just searching for conversation and don’t have people to talk to. “It’s not just about the food; it’s about the community.”

Nicole notes that the current economy has impacted so many in our community. “The prices are insane, and everybody needs help, and it’s not just for the people on food stamps or Medicare or Medicaid,” she points out. 

Nicole notes that the Food Bank does so much and the kindness of staff members and other volunteers stands out. “Everyone here just feels like family,” she says. “Volunteering here, working here. I’ve met so many of the people who work here. Everyone just works together and I love it. I’ve tried to go to other places to volunteer and it’s never the same.”