For the past six months, I've volunteered at a food bank in Port Townsend, Washington.

I recently wrote about what I've learned from the people we serve. My fellow volunteers have changed me just as much.

The world, especially the U.S., often feels hostile and divided right now, and it's hard to feel optimistic. Working alongside these people has helped change that.

Week after week, I watch them empty trucks of donations, sort and clean produce, and restock shelves that constantly need refilling.

Most volunteers, like me, are in their 50s, 60s, and 70s. They have aching backs, throbbing knees, hip replacements, and arthritis, and by the end of the day they're exhausted. They come back the next week anyway. Nobody is waiting for someone else to solve the problem.

What has moved me most is how they treat the people who come in.

The volunteers don't just hand out food. They know who is caring for a sick family member and ask how they are doing. They know who is losing weight and not eating enough, and they give them extra food. They know who doesn't have a kitchen and can't cook hot food and make sure they take home food they can eat anyway.

They also treat every one of them with the same dignity and respect.

So to all my fellow volunteers, and especially Mary and Murphy, who make every Wednesday a joy with your laughter and positive energy: thank you.

You've spent your Wednesdays giving people food. You've also given me something I'd been starving for: the belief that most people are fundamentally good.