From Bedbound to Food Rescue Hero: How Jocelyn and Allan Became One of ExtraFood’s Most Dedicated Volunteer Teams

When ExtraFood was struggling to find volunteers to complete food rescues out to Victory Village, a senior living community in Fairfax, two unexpected heroes stepped forward: resident Jocelyn and her caretaker, Allan.

At first, they simply wanted to help fill a volunteer shortage. But what began as a way to support their community quickly grew into something much bigger. Today, Jocelyn and Allan are among ExtraFood’s most active volunteers, completing more than 100 food rescue trips and recovering over 24,000 pounds of fresh food for communities across Marin.

For Jocelyn, volunteering has become far more than a weekly commitment—it’s a return to the active life she once loved.

Before a serious back injury left her bedbound for five years, Jocelyn lived an adventurous life filled with mountain climbing and flying helicopters through the Grand Canyon. She even climbed Everest. After years of immobility, the ability to walk again felt life-changing. Now, with Allan by her side, she says volunteering feels like making up for lost time.

Together, the pair has found a rhythm that works perfectly. Allan handles the driving and heavy lifting, while Jocelyn fills donation boxes and sorts food for distribution. What could feel like routine logistics has instead become a source of purpose, movement, and connection.

“To me, food rescue is getting out of the house regularly, helping the community, and doing physical exercise,” Jocelyn says.

Their favorite rescue is the large Sunday donation from Sprouts Market delivered to Victory Village. What started as a food distribution has evolved into something much more meaningful for residents.

“There’s not a lot of activities for seniors to do, so this delivery is a community event,” says Jocelyn. “We have a whole team of volunteers that have stepped up to help and they all look forward to Sundays. They enjoy it.”

Every week, residents gather together in anticipation of the delivery—not just for the food, but for the sense of connection it brings. Volunteers work together to sort and distribute groceries while making sure everyone is cared for, including neighbors who are unable to leave their homes.

It’s a powerful reminder that food does more than nourish people physically. It creates community, purpose, routine, and relationships.

At ExtraFood, we often talk about the impact of recovering surplus food, but stories like Jocelyn and Allan’s show another side of the mission: the way food rescue can transform the lives of the people involved in the process itself.

From helping neighbors access healthy food to creating joyful weekly gatherings for seniors, Jocelyn and Allan have built something truly special at Victory Village.

We are deeply grateful for their dedication, compassion, and hard work—and for the many ways they continue to strengthen their community, one rescue at a time.