A Carrot Too Many: The Power and Powerlessness of Food Bank Volunteers

Volunteering at a food bank seems like an inherently good act—serving those in need, distributing food to struggling families, and giving back to the community. But what happens when the act of service places volunteers in a position of unexpected authority over the very people they are meant to help? What does it mean to have the power to decide who gets food and who doesn’t, especially when you yourself have never known real hunger?

This essay explores the ethical and emotional complexities of food bank volunteering, questioning the power dynamics at play and the moral weight of enforcing limits on those who have so little. Additionally, it compares food bank operations and food insecurity statistics in Switzerland, New York City, and Argentina to provide a broader context for these challenges.

The Dilemma of Enforcing Fair Yet Restrictive Rules

Food banks have to follow strict guidelines to make sure food is shared evenly among those in need. These rules exist for good reasons, but that doesn’t make them easier to enforce. While volunteering at a food bank in Vevey, Switzerland, I faced a moment that has stayed with me. A woman, after being told she could take only three carrots, looked at me and pleaded, “Just one more, please. I have six children at home.” I froze. I am only 15, living a life that never forces me to worry about my next meal. Yet, there I was, the one deciding how much food a struggling mother could take to feed her family. 

It felt wrong. How had I ended up in this position—a teenager with no real-world experience telling a woman, who had fought battles I would never fully understand, what she could and couldn’t put on her table? I wasn’t qualified to make that decision. The restrictions existed to ensure there would be enough food for everyone, but that knowledge didn’t ease the unfairness I felt. I would go home that night and eat whatever I wanted. How could I possibly tell her that three carrots would be enough?

Volunteering at a food bank can feel rewarding, but it also places people in positions that don’t always sit right. Many volunteers, myself included, have never experienced hunger, yet we find ourselves deciding how much someone else can take. It’s a responsibility that carries weight—often in ways we never anticipated. Saying “no” to someone who is already struggling leaves a mark that lingers. Studies show that enforcing policies conflicting with personal morals can cause moral distress, a phenomenon often seen in healthcare and humanitarian workers (Rushton 98). I didn’t expect volunteering to make me question myself so deeply, but it did. Long after I left that food bank, I kept wondering whether I had truly helped or if I had simply been another obstacle in someone’s fight to get by.

Navigating Language Barriers and Cultural Sensitivity

Food insecurity disproportionately affects marginalised communities, including immigrants and refugees who may not speak the local language. This communication gap deepens their sense of isolation. One encounter that deeply affected me was with a Peruvian father and his young son, newly arrived in Switzerland. Neither spoke English nor French. As they navigated the food bank, they relied on pointing and hand gestures, avoiding conversation to hide their linguistic struggle. I saw them at different stations, their eyes downcast, hesitant to draw attention. 

When they reached my station, I overheard the father tell his son, “¡Mira, niño! ¡Hay pepinos hoy! Tu favorito!” Seizing the moment, I responded in Spanish, “¡Ay sí, los míos también!” Their heads shot up, eyes wide with surprise. “¿Hablas español?” They asked. “Sí, soy de Buenos Aires,” I replied. Their faces instantly brightened. The father sighed with relief, finally able to communicate without barriers. For the first time, our interaction felt human rather than transactional. I could tell that having someone speak their language made them feel less alone.

Then came the hard part. The father asked how many vegetables they could take. I explained the limit: two per family. His son eagerly grabbed a cucumber, while the father reached for an artichoke but hesitated, realizing they already had potatoes. I watched him weigh his son’s excitement against his own preference. He eventually put the artichoke back, choosing his son’s happiness over his own. It was heartbreaking. Why should a father have to choose between his child’s joy and his own simple pleasure?

When my supervisor turned away, I quietly slipped an artichoke into their bag. The father’s eyes met mine with gratitude. “Gracias, de verdad,” he said. “Que Dios te bendiga.” I nodded, a swirl of emotions churning inside—guilt for bending the rules but conviction that I had done the right thing. This experience underscored how rigid systems often fail to recognise the humanity behind need. While food banks strive for fairness, their structures can overlook deeper complexities of individual lives. Some programmes have improved by offering culturally appropriate foods and recruiting multilingual volunteers to foster inclusivity (Garthwaite, 112).

Contrasting the Food Assistance Programs and Social Settings in Switzerland, New York City and Argentina.

Understanding food insecurity requires examining how different regions handle food distribution. Comparing Switzerland, New York City, and Argentina reveals varied approaches shaped by cultural, economic, and systemic factors.

Switzerland: Organised but Inflexible

Switzerland's food assistance programmes reflect the country’s emphasis on order and efficiency. Only 2% of the population faces food insecurity (World Bank, 2023). Food banks operate through pre-registration systems, ensuring calm and organised environments with minimal conflict. Major retailers like MANOR consistently supply fruits, vegetables, dairy, and pantry staples, maintaining steady inventory without the chaos often seen elsewhere. However, this structured approach can feel impersonal. Strict adherence to rules sometimes ignores individual needs, as I witnessed firsthand.

New York City: High Demand and Chaos

New York City’s food banks face overwhelming demand, serving approximately one million residents (City Harvest 2023). Unlike Switzerland’s appointment system, many NYC food banks operate on a first-come, first-served basis, creating long lines and high-tension environments. Disputes over portion sizes and people rushing for limited items are common. Organisations like City Harvest and Food Bank for New York City collaborate with grocery chains such as Trader Joe’s and Costco to redistribute surplus foods. Despite the often hectic atmosphere, NYC food banks extend services beyond food distribution, offering job support, healthcare referrals, and nutrition education. Still, the sheer volume of people in need can strain resources and volunteers alike. 

Buenos Aires: Community-Oriented but Resource-Limited

Buenos Aires embodies a vibrant, community-driven approach to food assistance. Roughly 36.4% of Argentina’s population experiences moderate to severe food insecurity (Global Alliance for Food Security, 2023). Unlike the centralized systems in Switzerland, food distribution in Argentina is often handled by religious groups, local nonprofits, and neighborhood volunteers. Major retailers like Carrefour, Día, and Coto contribute, but donation levels fluctuate, making food availability unpredictable. Lines are marked by conversation and camaraderie, with people sharing stories while waiting. However, scarcity can spark tension, especially when supplies run low. Despite the challenges, the sense of solidarity is strong—volunteers often know recipients personally, fostering deep-rooted community connections. 

Conclusion

Food banks are critical in combating food insecurity but present ethical and emotional challenges for volunteers. Enforcing distribution policies, navigating cultural differences, and confronting the privilege gap between volunteers and recipients complicate what seems like a simple act of kindness. The contrasts between Switzerland’s efficiency, New York’s urgency, and Argentina’s communal spirit highlight how different contexts shape food assistance systems. Food insecurity is more than a lack of food—it’s about dignity, fairness, and human connection. Addressing it requires not only effective policies but empathy and a willingness to see the individual beyond the need.

Author: Ines (Year 11) during Community Learning Week, February 2025. Our Community Learning Week provides a wide range of opportunities for our students to learn about issues and challenges faced in our local Swiss community. They had an opportunity to reflect on and learn about whether these problems are also present in their own home communities, and to learn how to develop solutions. 

Aiglon's Guiding Principles: the balanced development of Mind, Body and Spirit. A generous mind recognises the importance of service to others as an essential part of creating a harmonious and healthy society.

Works Cited

• City Harvest. "Hunger in NYC." 2023.
• Center for an Urban Future. "The Cost of Food Insecurity: NYC's Growing Hunger Crisis." 2022.
• Garthwaite, Kayleigh. *Hunger Pains: Life Inside Foodbank Britain.* 2016.
• Global Alliance for Food Security. "Understanding Food Insecurity in Argentina." 2023.
• Riches, Graham. *Food Banks and the Welfare Crisis.* 2018.
• Rushton, Cynda H. *Moral Resilience: Transforming Moral Suffering in Healthcare.* 2018.
• The World Bank. "Prevalence of Undernourishment - Switzerland." 2023.