Frequently Asked Volunteer Questions
What do volunteers do at Second Harvest Food Bank?
What can volunteers expect to do in the warehouse?
What do I need to do to volunteer at Second Harvest Food Bank? Can I just show up?
What if I have physical limitations?
What should I wear?
What age must children be to volunteer at Second Harvest Food Bank?
I need service hours for school. How can I get service hours at Second Harvest Food Bank?
I lost my service hours sheet and need another one. Help!
What do volunteers do at Second Harvest Food Bank?
There are three main volunteer opportunities: warehouse work, administrative / office work and special events / projects.
The majority of our volunteer work is in the warehouse. On an as needed basis, we also have administrative tasks such as preparing mailings or data entry.
Volunteers are also needed for special events and projects including food drives, the annual Harvest the Music concert series, winter citrus gleaning, and much more.
What can volunteers expect to do in the warehouse?
Volunteers may work on:
Repack
Volunteers sort donated food from a conveyor belt into different categories -- dry goods, soups, beverages, and more. These sorted items are then boxed, weighed and prepared for distribution to our member agencies.
Salvage
Volunteers sort through donated food items in order to determine what food is fit for consumption. Volunteers examine expiration dates, overall condition and integrity of packaging, etc. This work is done outdoors under a protective covering.
Backpacks
Volunteers pack nutritious foods and snack items into bags that are to be distributed to children who are food insecure through 13 designated schools in our service area.
What do I need to do to volunteer at Second Harvest Food Bank? Can I just show up?
While we love to have enthusiastic volunteers ready and willing to help, we do ask that volunteers schedule shifts in advance. We hate to turn volunteers away, but this policy ensures that there is an appropriate number of volunteers per shift for proper supervision, efficiency and safety in the warehouse.
Contact the Volunteer Services Department and to check our schedule for open shifts. You must be added to our daily roster before volunteering.
We will ask you to complete a volunteer registration form beforehand or when you arrive for your shift. Click here to download a volunteer registration form.
When you arrive for your volunteer shift, we also ask that you sign in and out on our volunteer log.
What if I have physical limitations?
If you are working a warehouse shift, please let the repack supervisor know of any limitations you may have, such as being unable to lift 20 pounds or more, or stand for extended periods of time, or other back or other health issues). Our staff will work to accommodate you.
We also have many volunteer opportunities that do not involve physical labor, including office projects and assisting with special events.
What should I wear?
Wear comfortable clothes (shorts, jeans, t-shirts) and closed toe shoes if you are working a shift in the warehouse. Please dress appropriately for the weather as you may be working outside. The warehouse can be warm during summer months or cold in winter months.
What age must children be to volunteer at Second Harvest Food Bank?
Volunteers must be at least 9 years old. Adult supervision is required for children 13 and younger to ensure the safety of our visitors and productivity.
For student groups and volunteer field trips, we require:
1 chaperone for every 5 students between the ages of 9 – 13 (4th – 8th grades)
1 chaperone for every 10 students between the ages of 14 – 18 (9th – 12th grades)
Children younger than 9 are encouraged to get involved in the fight against hunger in other ways. Organizing a small neighborhood food drive is a great way for a younger child to learn the importance of helping their community.
For assistance with projects for children, please contact the Volunteer Services Department at 504.729.2849.
I need service hours for school. How can I get service hours at Second Harvest Food Bank?
Call or email to schedule your shift in advance. We cannot accept student volunteers that have not scheduled in advance.
Saturday and holiday shifts are very popular and often booked several months in advance. Good times for students to volunteer include half-days at school and school holidays.
Because Saturday shifts are so popular, we keep a waiting list of volunteers interested in these opportunities. If space becomes available for a Saturday shift, volunteers will be contacted by email. Please let the Volunteer Services Department know if you would like to be added to this list.
I lost my service hours sheet and need another one. Help!
Don’t worry. We track the total number of hours that a volunteer has been scheduled and keep the sign-in logs so that we will know how many hours have been worked. If you need a replacement letter for service hours, please call the Volunteer Services Department at 504-729-2849 as soon as possible.
Our office is open from 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Monday through Friday, but please call ahead to request a replacement letter.
For additional questions and information, contact the Volunteer Services Department at 504-729-2849. We are happy to answer any other questions you may have.