Volunteer
Volunteer
Volunteers play a crucial role in supporting our daily operations and assisting with vital tasks that include sorting and packing food, managing distribution events, providing administrative support, engaging in outreach initiatives, and more.
Become a part of our volunteer force of over 6,000 peers and join us in the collective effort to eliminate hunger.
After a quick registration process, you will gain access to our volunteer portal where you can view the upcoming openings. Simply click on any date on the calendar to check for available spaces in each shift. Make sure to secure your spot or register your group for the desired shift. Our volunteer shifts fill up rapidly, so don’t delay!
If you are interested in volunteering on a future date not yet listed on our calendar, please reach out to our Volunteer Department for assistance in scheduling.
Whether you’re an individual, group, or corporate team, we provide our volunteers with a variety of opportunities to get involved in the effort to eliminate hunger.
Traditional Volunteer Assignments
Our traditional volunteer assignments are one-time shifts that require minimal or no advanced preparation. While prior registration is necessary, these assignments are suitable for most groups and individuals who come to the Foodbank to volunteer.
- Mobile Pantry Program: Volunteers assist in unloading the mobile pantry truck and distributing pre-packaged food, all while under the guidance of a staff member or a trained Volunteer Team Leader. To ensure a safe and efficient operation, all volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
- Quality Assurance: Volunteers may be assigned to a variety of tasks based on current needs, such as sorting non-perishable food items, packing food for the mobile pantry, preparing youth-friendly food bags for the BackPack Program, repacking bulk food, and assisting with warehouse sanitation and cleanliness. To participate, volunteers must be at least 16 years old, while those aged 12 to 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Special Events: Volunteers are highly valued in assisting with our fundraising events, including the Mayflower Marathon and large annual food drives. Depending on the activity, age minimums for volunteers may be established, and youth volunteers will require adult guardian supervision.
- Youth and Family Nights: Youth and Family Nights take place every Thursday from 5:30-7:30pm, offering a unique experience reserved for families with children between ages 6 to 11. Children attending must be accompanied by an adult. During these special events, volunteers may participate in tasks like sorting or packing food and enjoy a warehouse tour to introduce the work of the Foodbank to their children. It’s a wonderful opportunity to instill the value of giving back to the community and teach children about the importance of helping others in need.
Recurring Volunteer Assignments
These assignments often require specialized skills or training and involve a regular commitment to performing the tasks. If you are interested in these regular ongoing volunteer opportunities, please contact us to arrange an interview.
- Child Nutrition BackPack Program Delivery: This bi-weekly volunteer shift delivers bags of food to local schools. During the 4-hour delivery shift, you may need to lift 40-50 pounds repeatedly. Rest assured, you will have access to the Foodbank truck for these deliveries. Please note that deliveries must be made during regular school hours. To participate, volunteers must have a valid driver’s license in good standing.
- Non-CDL Truck Driver: Volunteers pick up food donations and/or deliver product throughout the community. This may involve repeated lifting of 40-50 pound containers. Depending on the task, you may use a Foodbank truck or your own vehicle. To participate, volunteers must have a valid driver’s license in good standing.
- Receptionist/Switchboard Assistant: Volunteers will have the opportunity to answer phones, assist visitors with food donation deliveries, and operate a 5-phone line communication system. We are looking for volunteers with the right skills and abilities to deliver exceptional customer service to all callers and visitors.
- Office Assistant: Volunteers are an essential part of our office functions and departments, supporting us through regular shifts in various tasks such as data entry, organization, compliance, and consumer and donor contact, among others.
- Warehouse Customer Service: Volunteers work alongside Foodbank staff, ensuring excellent customer service to food donors, community groups, and partner agencies by contributing to various tasks such as food drive check-in, agency marketplace weigh station, light maintenance crew, and more.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Assistant: Volunteers will engage in sharing valuable information and assisting clients with signing up for SNAP benefits. They will visit partner agencies, join mobile pantry crews, and offer phone support.
Leadership Volunteer Assignments
Leadership volunteer assignments require experience and a continued dedication to the Foodbank’s mission. To qualify for these roles, volunteers are required to complete regular shift assignments, undergo training, and participate in a monthly Volunteer Team Leader meeting.
- Volunteer Team Leader: Serving as peer leaders for nearly every task at the Foodbank, these volunteers’ involvement and commitment play a crucial role in eliminating hunger. This group has accumulated countless hours of service. In addition to their extensive experience, they have received specialized training in task and group management. Volunteer Team Leaders play a crucial role in supervising evening and weekend warehouse work, coordinating special events, and overseeing specific warehouse functions.
- Volunteer Advisory Council: The Volunteer Advisory Council convenes regularly to analyze volunteerism and foodbanking trends and their influence on our volunteer department. This collaborative group, comprising both volunteers and staff, plays a crucial role in establishing procedures and overseeing the volunteer functions at the Foodbank.
For more details about volunteer shifts or assistance with navigating Volunteer Hub, please don’t hesitate to contact our dedicated team at:
For more information, contact our
Director of Corporate Engagement at (757) 201-6295
