The Joy of Cooking: Feeding Folks Across the Community

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Emily Liao. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

Emily Liao, a high school junior, loves to bake. Her two younger siblings undoubtedly reap some of the benefits of having a cook in the house, but so does the surrounding community. Emily employs her skills for multiple organizations in San Francisco, where she bakes for fundraisers and school events. Her ability to make macarons and cheesecake tells of her talent and a testament to her aunt’s dedication in teaching her.

Less than a year ago, Emily joined HandsOn Bay Area, an organization that, like Points of Light, connects motivated volunteers with opportunities to address issues in their community and help people in need. Making use of her passion, Emily spent last summer cooking for and serving food to those facing food insecurity at Martin de Porres for 20 to 25 hours a week. At the Homeless Prenatal Program, she began helping connect low-income parents and families with necessities, including food.

Combined with short-term and event-based opportunities like garden projects and neighborhood cleanups, Emily has dedicated more than 200 volunteer hours to these programs in her first seven months with HandsOn. In addition to volunteering during school breaks, Emily works as a tutor to help kindergarten through 8th graders with math and English.

I started one day when my friend asked me to go with her. At first, I wasn’t excited, because I didn’t know what to expect. We went to a food bank, and I enjoyed it a lot. They were often really short-staffed without volunteers and would struggle to operate fully. Being a volunteer makes me really happy, because I’m helpful. People need help. My friend and I often still volunteer together, but it depends on our schedules.

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?

HandsOn was an organization I found really interesting that had a lot of opportunities for me to volunteer in lots of places. You can find roles that align with your skills and interests.

Tell us about your volunteer role with HandsOn Bay Area.

I chose to work at Martin De Porres, because I enjoy cooking and baking. They often need people for that when they feed the unhoused and food insecure, and that is where I spend most of my volunteer time. I go whenever I get a chance.

The Homeless Prenatal Program is also a food bank, so I help package food. They also offer a lot of necessities for people with children or low-income families. I organize and package things like diapers and socks that families need.

Outside of HandsOn partner programs, I also volunteer for Marin Food Bank where I organize fresh fruit and vegetables and pack food into bags. And at Bakes and Smile, a youth-led baking organization, I make baked goods for other clubs and organizations throughout San Francisco and manage orders. I also volunteer for California Scholarship Federation, an honor society at my school, where I tutor students in Algebra and Chinese. I speak Cantonese at home and take Mandarin and Spanish classes at school.

Do you get to meet the people you’re helping?

Yes. Sometimes, when I’m giving the packages of items to them, we get to talk. It’s really nice to talk to people who come from different backgrounds. I’ve also met a lot of fellow volunteers.

What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?

I hope to continue volunteering with HandsOn, because it feels nice to volunteer and help others. I couldn’t really find any opportunities in the beginning, because I didn’t know what to search for. But HandsOn aligns with what I want to do, things I’m interested in.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

Working at Martin Des Porres and the Prenatal Center has taught me that even simple acts of kindness can make a big impact, because they’re about helping others. I enjoy serving food and following my passions.

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?

I’ve learned about a lot of different people’s backgrounds. And because I do a lot of cooking, I’ve also learned new ways to cut vegetables. It’s so fun to get to know the other volunteers, too. Some of them are from other parts of the U.S. and some are from abroad. Sometimes we have kids from Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts come help us. I also enjoy talking with them, because kids are fun to talk to!

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?

Volunteering helps people see outside of their own perspectives.

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?

Try it! You don’t know what it’s like until you’ve tried it.

What do you want people to learn from your story?

Volunteering is really rewarding. It’s an experience you’ll never forget, because you’re helping others and making a meaningful impact in the world.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Emily? Find local volunteer opportunities.