Pam Blom is a longtime Share Ourselves volunteer and donor whose involvement is rooted in her weekly service in the food pantry and her commitment to supporting individuals and families facing food insecurity.
Since retiring, Pam has volunteered regularly in the pantry, where she helps distribute food and works alongside other volunteers she has come to know well. She describes the environment as collaborative and grounded in shared purpose.
“There’s a lot of camaraderie among the volunteers.”
“I mean, you get to be really good friends with people you work with, you know, you’re packing food.”
Through her experience in the front lines of service, Pam has developed a deeper understanding of the challenges many community members face, particularly as costs of living continue to rise and more individuals struggle to make ends meet.
“There are a lot of people who don’t even know where to go.”
“There are a lot of people who are working as hard as they can, and they’re just especially right now with the cost of everything, can’t make ends meet.”
Pam emphasizes the importance of meeting basic needs to support overall well-being, noting how interconnected health and social conditions are.
“I feel like Share Ourselves really reaches out to the vulnerable, and those who need in the community that needs a helping hand.”
“Health is more than just medical, dental, and vision. It’s whether they are eating, do they feel safe, do they have a safe place to go home and go to sleep at night. It’s all related.”
For Pam, the experience of volunteering has also shaped her perspective on giving. Seeing the need firsthand strengthened her commitment to supporting the organization financially.
“If I weren’t a volunteer. I probably wouldn’t have donated because I wouldn’t have known it.”
She also reflects on the importance of dignity and human connection in service settings, and the role small interactions play in how people experience care.
“It’s giving somebody a hand. And they’re doing everything already they can to just help them out to make it a little easier.”
For Pam, philanthropy is a natural extension of what she witnesses each week in the pantry. She believes supporting community organizations is essential because they meet immediate needs while also restoring stability and dignity for people who are struggling. Her support of Share Ourselves is grounded in the belief that access to food, care, and compassion should not depend on circumstance, and that community-based organizations play a critical role in helping people stay connected, supported, and hopeful during difficult times.
