MILWAUKEE — As six Milwaukee County buses packed with groceries arrived Wednesday at Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, a small army of volunteers eagerly hopped on board and started to unload more than 15,000 pounds of food donations.

The roster of volunteers included some weekday regulars, a large group of high schoolers from St. Joan Antida, plus a handful of individuals back in Milwaukee for Thanksgiving weekend.

Before Ryan Albelda flew home from New York Tuesday evening, she already had plans to volunteer in Milwaukee the day before the holiday.

“I wanted to be busy,” Albelda said. “I’ve been working on this kind of stuff since I was 13. I love it.”

Albelda, now 25, was one of more than 150 volunteers on one the busiest days for Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.

The organization estimates 1 in 8 Wisconsinites experience food insecurity, including 1 in 5 children. “Stuff the Bus” donations from Pick N’ Save and other area businesses will help thousands of families through a network of about 400 Wisconsin food banks and meal programs.

Volunteers were glad to kick off the holiday season helping people in need.

“Our goal is to make this as enjoyable as possible,” said Melanie Biertzer, the volunteer engagement coordinator at Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. “When you’re around people with the same mindset, they see the work they’re doing and it really intrigues them to come back.”

Volunteering has become part of Albelda’s lifestyle. She recently surpassed her annual goal of 100 volunteer hours with hunger relief efforts.

She said she hopes young volunteers will feel the same inspiration she did as a first-time helper more than 10 years ago.