Meet Jackie Tarangelo: Wednesday Night Hero, Birthday Cake Finder, and Community Champion

Some people collect stamps. Some people binge-watch TV. Jackie Tarangelo volunteers.
In fact, volunteering has been part of Jackie’s life for as long as she can remember. Whether helping at food banks, supporting Habitat for Humanity, or pitching in wherever there’s a need, she’s always been drawn to making life a little easier for others. About a year and a half ago, she brought that generous spirit to Hunger Fighters, where she’s become a familiar face on Wednesday evenings.
“I’ve sort of been volunteering always,” Jackie says. “These are just things that are important to me.”
One of the things Jackie loves most about Hunger Fighters is its size. It’s big enough to make a difference and small enough to feel like family.
“I like that it’s small,” she explains. “I know a lot of people here now, and I know a lot of the guests that come in.”
And yes—guests. That word matters to Jackie.

​Neighbors Show Up For Neighbors

For her, food insecurity isn’t some distant issue. It’s something that can affect anyone.
“My heart just breaks for a lot of these people,” she says. “A couple of bad breaks, and I could be in line, too. It can happen to any of us.”
As someone who is semi-retired and still working to make retirement affordable, Jackie understands how quickly life can throw a curveball. That understanding shows up in every interaction she has at the pantry.
She’s also seen firsthand how much the need has grown. One recent Wednesday night brought a record number of families through the doors, including many first-time visitors.
“That just makes my heart ache for people,” she says. But if there’s one thing that gives Jackie hope, it’s this community.
When benefits were disrupted earlier this year, donations came pouring in. Shelves filled up. Deliveries kept arriving. Neighbors showed up for neighbors.
“People really stepped up,” Jackie says. “This is a wonderful community. People really care. You put out the word that we need help, and they’re there.”
One of Jackie’s favorite Hunger Fighters memories involves something sweet, quite literally.
The pantry had received a birthday kit filled with cake mix and decorations. One evening, a guest discovered the kit just in time for their child’s birthday.
“They said, ‘I can’t believe this. I needed this,’” Jackie remembers.
Sometimes a birthday cake is more than a birthday cake. Sometimes it’s a reminder that someone cares.
Moments like that stick with Jackie.
“Whenever I think that I have problems, I come here and realize how lucky I am.”
Volunteering has also taught her an important lesson: need doesn’t always look the way people expect.
Guests come from every background imaginable. Some arrive in work clothes. Some arrive in business attire. Some drive older cars. Some drive newer ones.

If You Need Food, Please Come In

“Nobody is better than anybody else,” Jackie says. “You can’t judge. You don’t know what people are going through.”
A job loss, a medical emergency, rising costs, or a struggling business can change everything in a matter of weeks.
“If someone says they’re hungry and they need food, take that at face value,” Jackie says. “I love that this place does that. If you’re here and you need food, please come in.”
Over time, Jackie has become something of a pantry detective, always keeping an eye out for items that might brighten someone’s day. Spot a box of baby wipes? She knows exactly who might need them. Find a special item tucked away in the back? She’s ready to make sure it gets into the right hands.
As for what Hunger Fighter guests need most often, Jackie has the insider scoop: cereal, hygiene products, cleaning supplies, and fresh produce disappear fast.
“Shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, those basic items go so fast,” she says. “Hygiene items are definitely the biggest need.”
For Jackie, volunteering may seem like a small thing. But week after week, bag after bag, conversation after conversation, she helps create a place where people feel welcomed, respected, and supported.
“I wish I could change the world,” she says. “But I can’t. So I can help in my community.”
Lucky for us, and for the hundreds of families who visit Hunger Fighters each month, that’s exactly what she does.

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