Volunteer Spotlight
Each month, a volunteer at SFBFS is featured for their dedication of time and talent. This month’s volunteer spotlight is:
Theresa Defazio-Darosa - May 2013
A third generation Sacrametan, Theresa DefazioDarosa, 53, can recall Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services' (SFBFS) history back to the days of Father Dan Madigan's hot-meal program in the basement of Immaculate Conception Church. Teresa volunteered there at the age of 20.
Now a married mother of four working part time as a nurse at Sutter Memorial Hospital, Theresa would feel a pull every time she passed SFBFS' Oak Park campus on her way home from work. Hoping to get involved with a new and improved SFBFS, Theresa returned to volunteer with SFBFS in January 2012.
With 24 years of experience as a postpartum nurse, Theresa had a wealth of knowledge she was eager to share with both new and expectant mothers. Learning more about the organization's volunteer opportunities, she found SFBFS' Parent Education program to be a perfect fit.
Using skills from her background, Theresa found her niche teaching the Parent Education program's During Your Pregnancy course. She covered a variety of topics with soon-to-be mothers, including emotional and physical changes to expect during pregnancy, budgeting for newborns, giving birth, postpartum depression and infant safety.
"I was nervous at first teaching the classes," Theresa admitted. "Although I've worked for a long time as a nurse, I don't have any background in teaching, but it's so important for the mothers to learn about their babies in the beginning. So I overcame my anxiety."
Becoming more comfortable with teaching, Theresa began leading a workshop detailing the how-to's and benefits of using cloth diapers.
Noticing that Theresa was an outstanding instructor, SFBFS' Parent Education Program Manager, Lorena Carranza, recruited her to revamp the curriculum used for the During Your Pregnancy course.
"It is a blessing to have Theresa volunteering in our Parent Education program," said Lorena. "She brings a lot of great ideas to make the educational component of the program more meaningful. She is a mom, has a full-time job and many other things to do, so I feel extra grateful to have her."
Although Theresa juggles a hectic schedule, she also makes time to help out at the Parent Education program's Community Baby Showers, where she plans activities for children attending the event with their parents.
"I've known women who have a baby, and they have five baby showers," Theresa offered. "They get all kinds of stuff, enough for quintuplets. Almost too much. And some mothers never get anything at all besides a dirty look in a grocery store because they have more than 2.3 children. SFBFS community baby showers are great events and the moms are always so happy."
Gaining a sense of fulfillment from mentoring and educating expectant mothers, Theresa hopes to keep making a difference in the lives of parents in the future.
"The moms need nurturing too, which unfortunately, some of them didn't have the opportunity to receive as children themselves," said Theresa. "So it's important to provide them with that and teach them so they can nurture their children."
If you are interested in volunteering your time to help someone in need in our community, click here for more information.
Click on a link below to read archived Volunteer Spotlights:
Volunteer Spotlight – October 2011
Yolanda Moore
 Yolanda Moore originally came to Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) about five years ago when she was taking art classes at a local community college. She heard, by word of mouth, about a free art program for women in Sacramento, offered at a local non-profit organization. She became intrigued with the idea decided to check it out. What she found was the Women’s Wisdom Art program at SFBFS, a free art group for women from diverse backgrounds, who come together to support one another, learn new skills, and gain self-confidence and creativity. Yolanda felt very at home and started to gain confidence in her artistic abilities.
 After attending classes, she decided to pursue her degree in Art at Sacramento State University. Her classes began to take up the majority of her time. Eventually she approached Helen Plenert, Women’s Wisdom Art Program Manager, to inform her that she no longer had time to participate in the program and needed to commit full time to her Sac State classes. Although Helen and the other students were sad to see Yolanda leave, it made them happy that she was pursuing a lifelong goal. By setting such a goal and steadfastly working toward it, Yolanda was unknowingly inspiring others in the program. “Even as a student, she was always a huge help in the classroom,” says Helen. “I asked her to consider coming back as a volunteer someday. It was just over a year ago when she walked back in to begin volunteer work for us. “
In 2010, Yolanda returned to SFBFS after receiving her degree as a volunteer for the Women’s Wisdom Art program. As a volunteer, Yolanda offers support to the students in the program. “Every day is different,” says Yolanda. She typically arrives before any classes start, working with the instructors and pulling out all the necessary materials. The women often ask for help finding a certain item or ask for Yolanda’s opinion on a project. “Every woman has her own style when it comes to art,” she comments. “I try to give my opinion to them while at the same time making sure it doesn’t interfere with their own ideas.” Yolanda’s favorite part of volunteering is seeing students progress. Oftentimes students arrive unsure and afraid that they can’t create something worthwhile. The nature of the program allows them to freely express themselves and develop creatively. Once a student sees their work displayed on a gallery wall, they feel accomplished and self-confident. “The quality of the artwork created by these women is truly impressive,” says Yolanda.
Helen and the other instructors in the program value each and every day that Yolanda volunteers in the classroom. According to Helen, Yolanda is one of those rare jewels who see what needs to be done and just jumps headfirst in to do it. A new student may need some comforting and Yolanda just sits down next to her as if that was the last seat in the room and strikes up a conversation. Another minute she is up to her elbows in dirty dishes and paint brushes. “It's really a rare moment when I have to ask her to help with something specific because she usually thinks of it before I do. In fact, she may have already done it before I finish asking!” says Helen.
In addition to volunteering, Yolanda can be found painting or drawing on her own time, spending time with her friends, or visiting her family, including her grown children and five grandchildren.
If you are interested in volunteering your time to help someone in need in our community, click here for more information.
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