I volunteer at a local pantry also, and help out others when I get the word. Its hands down the best thing I've ever done wrt recovery; I think AA Chuck Chamberlain had it right when he said love is service. Our pantry operates monthly, no matter how twisted up my head is I get free of it serving folks there. The lady who runs it is the finest leader I've ever had the privilege of working with; she leads entirely from the front and is always changing up the system to provide a more nuanced service to the folks who come in. Recovery-wise she's a normie, but was married to an AA (my alanon sponsor), so has friends in both programs.
We get to know some of the people who come in.. worry about them when we don't see them. Drugs take many, some you can see wither from month to month. Some of my most treasured memories there were moments when I could help in a little way instead of just handing them a bag.