Matt Cone has a way of changing the atmosphere the moment he walks into the room. Maybe it’s his contagious smile. Maybe it’s his endless energy that somehow only grows stronger as the morning goes on. Or maybe it’s the genuine joy he brings to every guest and volunteer he meets.
This week marks Matt’s final week serving in our meat and dairy counter on Thursdays as he returns to working daytime hours. While we’ll certainly miss seeing him behind the counter each week, we know this isn’t goodbye. Matt has become part of the Twin Lakes Food Bank family, and we have no doubt we’ll continue to see him serving and investing in this community for years to come.
Matt first joined Twin Lakes Food Bank when his work schedule shifted to evenings, giving him the opportunity to volunteer during the day. Inspired by his wife, who had been serving here for years, he quickly discovered that volunteering would become much more than a way to give back—it would become a place where he found friendship and family.
If you’ve ever visited the meat and dairy counter on a Thursday, you’ve likely experienced Matt’s gift for making people feel seen. He doesn’t just hand out food—he exemplifies the heart of our values every time he greets guests by name, shares a laugh, offers encouragement, and creates moments of genuine connection. His warmth, humor, and compassion help transform what could be an ordinary interaction into one filled with dignity and joy.
His fellow volunteers love serving alongside him just as much as our guests love seeing him. Matt’s enthusiasm is contagious, and his positive attitude has a way of lifting everyone around him. When asked how volunteering has changed him, Matt shared, “It’s made me realize that it is not what you get from the world that matters most, but what you bring to it. Serving others has been a very humbling experience.” That perspective shines through in everything he does.
One of Matt’s favorite memories isn’t a single moment, but the countless hugs he’s shared with guests, “hugs of joy, gratitude, and everything in between.” Those simple acts of connection remind him why he serves. As he puts it, “I’ve made friends here to last a lifetime.”
Outside of the food bank, Matt works in maintenance at American River College and enjoys baseball, hiking, working out, and spending time with his wife, family, and friends. But if you ask him what makes Twin Lakes Food Bank special, his answer is simple: “Nothing compares to the sense of family that you find when serving or being served by this community.”
