4 ways volunteering builds stronger communities and connections

Volunteering is often seen as giving back, but its impact goes much deeper. At a time when many people are searching for connection, purpose, and a sense of belonging, volunteering has become a powerful way to strengthen communities and our ties to one another.

The data reflects what many people are already feeling. A Deloitte survey found that 91% of employees say volunteer opportunities positively influence their overall work experience and sense of connection — highlighting how meaningful volunteering can be in people’s lives.

And this shift toward volunteering isn’t happening in isolation. Across the globe, a broader movement is taking shape. From local food programs to skills-based community initiatives, people are finding meaningful ways to turn good intentions into action. PepsiCo associates are part of that global momentum: In 2025, more than 17,000 employees volunteered worldwide, contributing nearly 100,000 hours across initiatives focused on food access, safe water, workforce development, and community resilience.

What is it about volunteering that makes it so impactful — not just for the communities, but for the people who show up? Here are four ways it helps build connection, strengthen communities, and support well-being and belonging.

1. Volunteering creates meaningful impact in local communities

When Ixia Diaz Palacios signed on to volunteer through PepsiCo’s Jawun program, she knew she wanted to contribute her skills — but what she didn’t expect was just how deeply the experience would shape her sense of connection and responsibility to the community. Working in inner Sydney, Ixia supported the Kameygal Recording Studio, a media hub led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Her work focused on helping give the studio the clarity it needed to thrive. “I helped define the studio’s mission, vision, and point of view — critical to how it empowers and elevates artists,” Diaz Palacios said.

Through close collaboration with community leaders, Ixia gained a deeper understanding of how trust and connection drive meaningful community impact. “Hearing their stories and being trusted with personal experiences shifted my perspective,” Diaz Palacios said. Today, the Kameygal Recording Studio is active with workshops, live sessions, and growing demand from young Aboriginal artists across Australia. “Seeing the studio come to life has been incredibly powerful,” Diaz Palacios said.

For Ixia, the impact of volunteering goes beyond outcomes. “It’s not just about the satisfaction that comes after helping,” Diaz Palacios said. “It’s the lifelong connections you carry with you.”

2. Volunteering improves well-being and purpose

Based in São Paulo, Brazil, R&D Packaging Sr. Manager Maysa Kondarzewski Dutra has volunteered for years with organizations focused on hunger relief, health, and inclusion. From packing food to cooking meals and supporting charities, she finds volunteering energizing. “I am really happy when I can help other people to have the basics,” Dutra said. “Something that feels small to me can have a great impact for someone else.”

Over time, volunteering has also had a meaningful impact on Maysa’s personal well-being. After participating in a PepsiCo-sponsored charity run in 2024, she discovered a passion for running that strengthened both her physical and mental health, while still supporting causes she cares about. Since then, she’s participated in seven charity runs.

For Maysa, volunteering is as much about feeling healthier and more fulfilled as it is about giving back. She finds purpose in everyday moments that support both her own well-being and the communities around her. “Small actions can transform the world into a better place,” Dutra said.

3. Volunteering builds a stronger sense of connection and belonging

For Michael Valliant-Saunders, volunteering is a meaningful way to connect purpose with real-world impact. At a recent skills development event at the Peterborough New Canadian Center, he and four PepsiCo colleagues met with 30 high school students who are new Canadians. Together, they shared their career journeys spanning supply chain, R&D, and procurement.

The session encouraged open dialogue and meaningful one-on-one conversations. “It helped facilitate a lot of dialogue versus just a download of information,” said Valliant-Saunders, a Supply Chain Associate Manager at PepsiCo. Students remained afterward to ask follow-up questions and seek advice. “That was unexpected and really powerful,” he shared.

The experience also strengthened connections among the volunteers. Volunteering alongside associates deepened their relationships and revealed a shared commitment to giving back. “My colleagues were engaged and excited to be there and afterward, they were asking, ‘When are we going to do this again?’,” Valliant-Saunders said. Reflecting on the experience, he added, “I honestly believe we all have a cause we’re passionate about. Connecting around something we all care about was incredibly meaningful.”

4. Volunteering brings people together across communities and cultures

Damla Korkmaz saw firsthand how volunteering can bridge differences and bring people together through a shared purpose. During PepsiCo’s Filling Hearts campaign, she joined colleagues at the Manisa plant in Türkiye to prepare food boxes in partnership with the Basic Needs Association, helping support families across local communities.

But for Damla, the experience went well beyond the event. “It was more than just preparing food boxes,” Korkmaz said. “It was about people coming together with a shared intention.” Stepping away from the usual pace and priorities of the workday, the moment created space for something more immediate and human. “The focus shifted to something simple and ultimately more powerful: making a real difference in someone’s life,” Korkmaz said.

What stood out most to her was the sense of unity created in the process. “I saw people from completely different roles working side by side,” she recalls. “That moment made me realize how quickly a sense of belonging can be created when the purpose is genuine.” By the end of the event, thousands of food boxes were prepared — equivalent to approximately 80,000 meals. “Each box represents a human connection — someone you may never meet, but whose life you can still touch,” Korkmaz said. For Damla, volunteering has become a powerful way to create belonging. “When people focus on helping others, differences naturally fade away,” she said. “You see people working toward the same goal and that creates a very real and lasting connection.”