Advocate for Hunger-Relief

A wife, mother and business owner, Glenda Durst lives in the Valencia Park neighborhood of San Diego with her husband and their three special needs foster kids.

On top of all of that, Glenda is also a hunger-relief advocate.

Earlier in life, Glenda found herself homeless with her eldest daughters. As she received help from others, Glenda wanted to give back and started volunteering with Brothers Beno, a nonprofit serving the homeless. As she became more involved, Glenda wanted to make a more meaningful impact.

For the last few years, Glenda has attended Hunger Action Day with Feeding San Diego in the state capitol each year.

Hunger Action Day takes place each May in Sacramento when Feeding San Diego staff and supporters join the California Hunger Action Coalition and Californians from all over the state to speak to state representatives about important legislation affecting hunger in our communities. FSD invites clients, volunteers, donors and community representatives to visit legislators, meet advocates and speak on behalf of San Diegans struggling with hunger.

In Sacramento, Glenda has been able to tell her story and share her struggles of food insecurity. And when she returns each year, she knows she’s making a difference – the legislators and their staff remember her story and passion for the cause.

Glenda continues her advocacy work year-round by calling her local representatives routinely asking them to vote in support of hunger-relief bills, and she inspires other volunteers to do the same.

When asked if calling your local representative is challenging, Glenda made it simple: “Find out who your representative is and give them a call. It’s not hard.”