by Laine Himmelmann
More than 350 Blue Shield of California and Stellarus volunteers came together to fight food insecurity across the state, contributing over 1,000 volunteer hours at local food banks during the third annual Dolores Huerta Day of Service, and kicking off National Volunteer Month.
“Access to nutritious food is essential for good health,” said Caprice McIlvaine, vice president of communications and corporate citizenship at Blue Shield of California. “Having experienced food insecurity growing up, knowing this food will end up on people’s tables made this Day of Service especially meaningful. It was a great day for the community — and a great day for the soul.”
Volunteer events took place at a dozen food banks across California, from Redding to San Diego, including Sacramento, the East Bay, Los Angeles, and Blue Shield and Stellarus offices. Employees sorted and distributed more than 130,000 pounds of food — helping provide tens of thousands of meals to Californians in need — and decorated over 450 meal and care bags for youth experiencing homelessness. The work supported nonprofit organizations advancing food access and community well-being, values central to Dolores Huerta’s lifelong activism.
For mother‑daughter volunteers Mari and Arielle Corbin, the day was especially meaningful. “I grew up hearing stories of my mom working in the fields in central California,” said Arielle Corbin, a member of Blue Shield’s communications team. “Volunteering alongside her and my colleagues to bring food to local families in honor of Dolores Huerta is a very full circle moment.”
At the Alameda County Community Food Bank in Oakland, more than 80 volunteers sorted and packed 23,224 pounds of fresh food, helping provide 19,276 meals to local families.
“Serving alongside colleagues across our Ascendiun Family of Companies was incredibly powerful,” said Ron Thompson, vice president of IT applications at Stellarus and executive champion for the ¡Unidos! employee resource group, which helped organize the day’s activities alongside the Elevating Women employee resource group. “This is how we live our mission in a tangible way — and a reflection of our shared commitment to giving back.”
In Los Angeles, over 30 volunteers supported Project Angel Food, producing 6,500 medically tailored meals for individuals living with serious illness and facing food and health insecurity.
“Healthy, nutritious food is a vital part of health care,” said Kristen Cerf, president and CEO of Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan and a Project Angel Food board member. “For people with serious and chronic illnesses, medically tailored meals provide nourishment, dignity, and stability.”
As part of Day of Service, Blue Shield also contributed to the Dolores Huerta Foundation, which empowers communities through civic engagement, health equity, and education initiatives.
The impact continued throughout National Volunteer Month, with employees contributing an additional 3,270 volunteer hours across California in April — many volunteer efforts aligned with Earth Month, reinforcing the connection between environmental sustainability, food access, and community health.
Watch our Day of Service video, spotlighting our efforts across the state.
To learn more about Blue Shield’s culture of philanthropy and commitment to our California communities, please visit citizenship.blueshieldca.com
Feeding San Diego
Sacramento Food Bank
Alameda County Food Bank
Project Angel Food, Los Angeles
Covenant House, Long Beach
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
El Dorado Food Bank
Salvation Army, Redding
Covenant House, Woodland Hills
Rancho Cordova Food Locker
Hope the Mission, Southern California
Loaves and Fishes, Sacramento
Elk Grove Food Bank