More than 4,000 volunteers representing local nonprofits work behind the scenes at the three-day festival, and are rewarded by the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association for their efforts. Over the festival’s 35 years, more than $8 million has been donated to local nonprofits. Here is a look at a few the people ensuring the garlicky extravaganza runs smoothly this year.
Name: Dolores Kirchner
Age: 56
From: Gilroy
Area volunteering at: Host Corps
Years volunteering: 5-6 years in that area, 12 years total volunteering
Why volunteer?: Support Gilroy United Methodist Church. She said she was glad to move from the Ranch side to the Park side this year, where it is a little cooler and there is more shade.
Favorite festival food or dish: Sausage sandwich
Favorite memory: She enjoys being able to socialize and talk to visitors. “It’s a cool job. I get to meet a lot of people. I am just trying to represent the city. I want the visitors to enjoy their experience.” She compared the volunteers at the festival to the staff at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and said both are really friendly.
Name: Donnelle Copeland
Age: 53
From: Gilroy
Area volunteering at: Volunteer Check-in, Gourmet Alley
Years volunteering: 1
Why volunteer?: To help Gateway Center
Favorite festival food or dish: Garlic chicken
Favorite memory: The music and dancing
Favorite part of the festival: Food
Name: Mary Lazaga
Age: 60
From: San Jose
Area volunteering at: Gourmet Alley
Years volunteering: 30
Why volunteer?: To help Gateway Center. “I really enjoy raising money for a good cause. It is a good way to give back to the community.”
Favorite festival food or dish: Garlic pepper steak
Favorite memory: Lazaga has enjoyed the volunteer experience so much that she has recommended it to several friends. One of her friends has been volunteering for about 20 years, but another didn’t have as good of an experience. Her other friend fainted from heat exhaustion during her time volunteering and then moved to Oregon where it is cooler and hasn’t been back since.
Favorite part of the festival: Sampling the food, being outdoors, seeing the variety of vendors and enjoying the music.
Name: Bill Bussell
Age: 66
From: Capitola
Area volunteering at: Gourmet Alley
Years volunteering: About 20 years
Why volunteer?: He was recruited by Mary Lazaga about 20 years ago and has enjoyed volunteering ever since. It is fun, he said, and it gives him the chance to warm up because he lives on the coast, where it is cold and overcast a lot.
Favorite festival food or dish: Scampi. He said he used to eat a lot of it when volunteers received free food – a practice that has since been curbed.
Favorite memory: “I love seeing all the people I haven’t seen since last year.”
Favorite part of the festival: Scampi
Name: Abby Baldwin
Age: 58
From: Morgan Hill
Area volunteering at: Beer tent
Years volunteering: 11
Why volunteer?: “I like how the community comes together and gives back. I feel like I have a little part in giving back and being part of the bigger picture.”
Favorite festival food or dish: Pepper steak, garlic bread – and of course the beer.
Favorite memory: “I like getting to meet new people. Everyone is so friendly and there are so many diverse backgrounds.”
Favorite part of the festival: Cook-off and music
Name: Essie Martinez
Age: 37
From: Gilroy
Area volunteering at: Lemonade and water stand
Years volunteering: 1
Why volunteer?: To help support her daughter on the Christopher High Dance and Cheer team
Favorite festival food or dish: Pepper steak
Favorite memory: Talking to people and making new friends
Favorite part of the festival: Music and food
Name: Michaela Leonard and Emily Rieske
Ages: 18
From: Livermore
Area volunteering at: H2O Crew that provides water to different areas
Years volunteering: 1st year
Why volunteer?: Dad recruited the girls and wanted to pass on the tradition of volunteering
Favorite festival food or dish: Looking forward to trying some new foods
Favorite part of the festival: Zip line
Name: Rosalind Farotte
Age: 62
From: Gilroy
Area volunteering at: Lane Enterprises – garlic braiding
Years volunteering: 1st
Why volunteer?: Volunteering at the festival has been a family tradition. She said her daughter first came out when she was 3 or 4 years old and now has real young kids herself who are also at the festival – though they aren’t doing too much volunteering just yet.
Favorite festival food or dish: Plans to try something new each day. Day one was the pepper steak.
Favorite part of the festival: “Seeing old Gilroyans and other people I went to high school with. It is fascinating to meet people from all over the world.”
Your memories
Did you volunteer this year and have a special memory of the festival? If so, please leave your thoughts in the comment section below. Include: Name, Age, From, Area volunteering at, Years volunteering, Why did you volunteer?, Favorite festival food, Favorite memory and Favorite part of the festival.
