What Volunteer Opportunities Are Available At Second Harvest
We have a number of volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups, whether you want to volunteer once a year or on a regular basis.
If youre looking to sort food at one of our warehouses or distribute food at one of our community sites, check out our volunteer registration calendar for specific dates and times, and to register for an upcoming shift. All volunteers must register in advance.
Please also check our page on Volunteer Match for opportunities. We recruit from Volunteer Match for a variety of front desk and light administrative coverage. Our partner agencies also need volunteers. Learn more about available opportunities.
Volunteering During The Coronavirus Pandemic
The Food Shuttle is committed to providing a safe volunteer experience that adheres to the recommendations put forth by Feeding America and health and government officials. With careful planning and attention to detail, we can safely and effectively engage individuals and groups in the work of addressing food insecurity.
Volunteer opportunities are available at a limited capacity allowing us to follow high standards of social distancing, sanitation, and screening. Please read our full protocol here.
Thank you for your interest in the Food Shuttle and working with us to address hunger in our community.
You Can Help End Hunger
We simply couldnt do what we do without our volunteers. Each year, more than 8,000 volunteers step through our front doors and become a part of the solution to hunger in our community. They bring their passion, energy and skills to the table so they can put food onto the tables of their neighbors in need. No matter your age or ability, you can play a role in solving hunger. Sign up to volunteer now at the hunger solution center nearest you.
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What Do I Need To Know About Food Rescue
Our FAQs can teach you more about food rescue and the importance of ensuring good food gets to peoples plates, not landfill.
What is ‘food rescue’?
What is ‘surplus food’?
What is ‘avoidable food waste’?
Is rescued food good to eat?
What liability is involved in making a donation?
What about food safety?
Can any type of food be donated?
- Leftover food that has been plated and served, including salad bar ingredients that are exposed to public touch
- Prepared food that has been in the temperature danger zone for 2 hours or more
- Food or drinks with alcohol and/or medicinal ingredients
- Packaged food thats been opened or has a broken seal
- Sushi
- Food from peoples homes
Do You Require Warehouse Volunteers To Be Vaccinated
Second Harvest is committed to protecting the health and safety of our employees, their families, and the community at large. All staff are required to be fully vaccinated. We do not require but strongly recommend that food sort volunteers coming into our warehouses comply with the same requirement, since they spend at least two to three hours inside our facility.
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Can I Distribute Food In The Community If Im Not Part Of A Group
Yes! Generally, our food distribution events are completely volunteer-run. Refer to our volunteer registration calendar to register for an upcoming shift. We also need individuals who are able to commit to volunteering on a regular basis. To see types of volunteer roles we need at food distribution events, check here.
Can I Sort Food In The Warehouse If Im Not Part Of A Group
Yes! Check out our volunteer registration calendar to find a day and time that work for you and ask each team member to sign up individually. Good times at our Cypress Center in North San Jose for individuals are the three-hour shifts weekday mornings starting at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
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This Is A Community Effort
Being able to provide millions of meals throughout the year is no small feat and it is impossible without the help of the community. Second Harvest is always in need of volunteers and donations, especially now as they prepare for hurricane season across the state.
Related:What should you do to prepare your business for hurricane season?
“We are always looking for people who want to help,” Curley says excitedly. ” We have a volunteer activity every weekday, Thursdays are reserved for large groups. We have groups of volunteers in here from all different walks of life, helping us sort and repack donations.”
Volunteers work in three-hour shifts where on average they are able to prepare 240 weeks’ worth of food. This food not only helps those regularly affected by lack of food but those displaced by floods, hurricanes, fire, domestic abuse, and more.
Monetary donations are also extremely useful, most people will never experience poverty or food insecurity. According to their website, 97 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to programs that feed the hungry. One dollar is able to provide four meals through the food bank. They also accept donations of food, diapers, formula, and more.
If you are in need of assistance you can visit no-hunger.org/foodassistance to find the program or pantry nearest you. You can also visit Second Harvest at 215 East Pinhook Rd. in Lafayette for immediate assistance. If you wantto donate or volunteer visit no-hunger.org/ways-give
Meeting Hunger At Its Root
Across the eight parishes in Acadiana, an average of 24% of children and over 100,000 residents faced food insecurity prior to the pandemic. Second Harvest has developed programs to meet hunger at its root cause.
“Food insecurity is normally not a stand-alone issue,” Brittany Bowie Impact Operations Officer explains. “A majority of the time, people who are food insecure, are also suffering other aspects of their lives. There is a stigma on needing help from pantries and food banks but we fail to realize a lot of people around us are on the brink of food insecurity.”
“Sometimes people may really want help but they have so much going on that they can’t figure out the first step. So our first step is always ‘well, let’s get something. Let’s get you some food.’ And then the second step is figuring out what else can we help you.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. The USDA reported that 13.8 million people were food insecure in 2020. Food insecurity can take many forms some common examples Second Harvest provided include
- A child going without meals during the summers when school is not in session
- A senior living on a fixed income having to choose between groceries and medicine
- Buying the cheapest food available, even if it is not the healthiest to save money
- A college student working to afford school and cutting their grocery budget to afford other needs.
Read Also: Food Bank Of North Central Arkansas
Volunteer Opportunities At Second Harvest
Group
- We welcome group opportunities in our distribution center. Shifts are Monday-Saturday from 8:30-11:30 am and 12:30-3:30 pm and can accommodate up to 21 volunteers. You may sign up directly at SignUp Genius or contact Becca Saubermann, Volunteer Service Coordinator, at .
- Interested in a date not yet scheduled? No worries, Becca would be delighted to help you schedule your group in advance.
- Did you enjoy your shift at Second Harvest with a group? If so, consider becoming a regular volunteer by completing the individual volunteer application linked here.
- We plan our days and projects around the number of volunteers we expect to arrive at our shifts, so please let know if the number of volunteers is subject to change ahead of time.
Individual
- Volunteering allows us to learn more about our community while also creating meaningful connections and relationships. At Second Harvest we welcome individual volunteers to grow and foster relationships with us and the community. Please reach out to Becca Saubermann at to get started!
- We plan our days and projects around the number of volunteers we expect to arrive at our shifts, so please let know if the number of volunteers is subject to change ahead of time.
Internships
- We collaborate with various academic institutions and programs through internships and service-learning courses. If you are interested in completing an internship at Second Harvest, please complete this inquiry form.
Mobile Pantries
What If The Shift I Want Is Already Full
We are fortunate to have strong community support, but it means the shift you want may already be full. The highest demand for volunteering is during the holidays, but your help is needed all year long. If you find the volunteer shifts you want are filled already, please consider joining us after the holidays. In January, we need help sorting the food we collect during the holidays. Summer is a good time because half of what we distribute is fresh produce, and the harvests come in fast during those months.
Check out our list of volunteer opportunities for individuals. You can also check out volunteer opportunities at our partner agencies.
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Restaurants & Food Service Rescue Program
We can deliver your unsold prepared and perishable food or event leftovers directly to our smaller community partners. We provide donation records for your tax purposes.
Our current restaurant partners include Disneyland and Orange County School Districts.
For more information, please contact us at .
I Need Hours For School Can I Volunteer At Second Harvest
You can satisfy your school-service requirement while helping to end hunger in our community. We have volunteer opportunities sorting food in our warehouse and distributing food in the community that are very rewarding experiences for students. If you want to sort food or distribute food at one of our community sites, check out our volunteer registration calendar for specific dates and times, and to register for an upcoming shift. All volunteers must register in advance.
If any of our other volunteer opportunities interest you, please ask ahead of time if it counts for school hours. Please note that we do not sign third-party forms, including school-service forms. You can print out a volunteer timecard and bring it every time you volunteer. See our volunteer timekeeping policy for more information.
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Donate Stocks Securities & Mutual Funds
Donations of stock can be made by utilizing our free online resource or by contacting your broker and requesting that the desired number of shares be transferred electronically to Second Harvests account.
Our online stock giving resource makes it simple to get started. You can learn more about your potential tax savings, access our Depository Trust Company information and complete the necessary paperwork online to support Second Harvest and our hunger relief efforts with a gift of stock. Learn more and access our transfer information here.
Volunteer Frequently Asked Questions
CAN CHILDREN VOLUNTEER?For our warehouse food sorts and food distributions, children ages 13+ may volunteer with a parent present. Due to safety regulations, we cannot accommodate volunteers under the age of 13.
THE VOLUNTEER SHIFT I WANT TO ATTEND SAYS FULL or 0 SPOTS OPEN, CAN I STILL COME?No, everyone must register ahead of time we do not accept walk-ins. If the event is full, please select another date, or add to the waitlist.
HOW DO I REGISTER FOR A VOLUNTEER SHIFT AS AN INDIVIDUAL?If you are a first-time volunteer, you will be asked to create a login and password when you sign up for your first shift on our volunteer registration system. Please be sure to store your login information for future use. Once registered and logged in, select your shift, and a confirmation email will be sent back to you. For returning volunteers, simply log in, select a shift, and you will receive a confirmation email.
We have created a helpful video to walk you through the process, which you can watch here: here: Volunteer Sign Up Process
HOW DO I REGISTER MY GROUP TO VOLUNTEER?If you would like to bring a group, please contact the Volunteer Program Manager at or at 831-232-8141. You can also fill out the request form with this link Group Volunteer Request Form Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz .
MY PRINTER IS NOT WORKING, CAN I SIGN FORMS WHEN I ARRIVE?Yes, if youre having trouble printing the consent forms or waivers, you can fill them out on-site, provided you are 18 and over.
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Is There Anything Special I Should Wear Or Bring To The Warehouse Or Food Distribution
The dress code in the warehouse and at food distribution sites is casual and comfortable. Please note the following requirements:
- Comfortable, safe footwear must be worn, including sneakers, work shoes or boots. Closed toed shoes are required. Anyone wearing high heels, open toed shoes or sandals will not be allowed to volunteer.
- Long pants are highly recommended but not required.
- Dress warm in the winter and dress light in the summer.
- No necklaces or long earrings.
Leave purses, jewelry and other valuables at home or locked in your trunk. Second Harvest is not responsible for any missing personal belongings.
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I Want To Volunteer With My Family How Should We Sign Up
Families can volunteer together, either in our warehouses sorting food or in the community distributing food. Families of five or more should register as a group and families of less than five will need to register as individuals.
Each member of the family must register in advance, even if registering as a group. The group organizer will send a special link so each member can sign up. Youths ages 12 to 17 must register with their information, and include an accurate email address for their parent or guardian. A required electronic parental permission slip will then be emailed to the parent or guardian. Youths younger than 12 are not permitted to volunteer, even with their parents or guardians.
Volunteer At Second Harvest Food Bank
Volunteers play an essential role in the operations of Second Harvest and we could not do what we do without the help of thousands of volunteers each year. Last year alone, volunteers donated over 18,000 hours of service and repacked more than 1.3 Million LBS of food and grocery products, packed thousands of backpcks, mobile food pantry boxes and senior food boxes.
Volunteer opportunities are available for groups up to 45 people and individuals in our Volunteer Work Center. Larger groups should contact our to schedule. Hours are available to fit every schedule including normally one Saturday each month.
Volunteer Opportunities Include:
- Repack: Sorting, inspecting, relabeling or repacking food in our Repack Room.
- BackPack, Senior & Mobile Food Pantry Boxes: Packing bags and boxes for distribution to families and children in our Clean Room.
- On-Site Distribution: Be part of our mobile and school food pantry distributions.
- Office: Help out at our front desk by assist with filing, data entry, mailings and other administrative activities.
- Special Events / Projects: Support staff during events, activities, campaigns, mobile produce pantries, and food drives.
All volunteers are asked to review our prior to their volunteer shift.
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Do I Need To Register Or Can I Just Show Up For A Volunteer Shift
Every volunteer needs to register individually even if you are part of a group. If you are an individual or the person organizing a group volunteer activity, you can register by selecting a shift on our volunteer registration calendar. If you are a member of a group activity, the group organizer will send you a special link to sign up.
How To Become A Volunteer
Your time is a gift to hungry kids, seniors and others who dont have enough food to eat. The Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania volunteers help sort, process and pack food and its a fun experience.
There are many volunteer opportunities available at Second Harvest. We work with individuals, schools, businesses and religious groups, just to name a few. Please watch our brief video below for more information on what to expect when you volunteer with Second Harvest.
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We Couldnt Accomplish All That We Have Without Volunteers
Second Harvest is grateful for every volunteer who lends their support and shares our vision of No Waste. No Hunger. We recognize volunteers who have gone above and beyond in their commitment and service to Second Harvest.
Outstanding Achievement Awards
Outstanding Achievement Awards recognize the dedication of an individual or group who go above and beyond in their volunteer role, demonstrate commitment, and support the work of Second Harvest.
Past recipients: Gaurav Bansal, Josh Jensen, Reanna Maharaj, Kathryn Ellis, Karen Hardy, Ken Nakamura, Pamela Neblett, Yan Moore, Deborah Mitchell, Victoria Genge-Narain, Gabrielle Cotton, Judy Nusinowitz, David Kopel, Susan Wetmore, Amanda Chung, Chiara Switzer, June MacDonald, Wendy Job, Ravi Nagraj, Antonette Wright, Maria Park, Pina Di Leo, William Leung, Elliot Steele, Alexander Radovac.
Corporate Volunteerism Award
This annual award recognizes a corporation or business partner that has provided exceptional and ongoing volunteer service to Second Harvest. They have embraced our mission and become a pillar of support to our organization.
Past recipients: Weston Foods, TD Bank
Mike Kic Spirit Award
Past recipients: Tamara Ramsey, Hyame Fadel-Jardine, Emily MacLellan, Andrew Patton, Mike Kic
The Ian Lawson Van Toch Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award
Past recipients: Voice Integrative School, Carter Ward, The Giles School, Sami Mendes, Arrabon House, Oliver Segal, Jake Grevier, Sarah Siddiqi