We serve hundreds of families, and every volunteer makes a meaningful difference. Whether you stay for one shift or both, here’s exactly what to expect when you arrive.

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When You Arrive

Parking: There is ample street parking and a public parking lot just down the street from the food bank. If possible, please defer parking inside of the gate to clients.

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Check-In: Ask a volunteer at the front desk to speak with our director, Paul, to submit your signed forms and complete orientation. Next find the wooden cart with the sign-in sheet to sign in and put on gloves prior to handling food.

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A team lead will give you a quick overview and assign you a food item to begin filling boxes. We’ll provide gloves, tools, and simple instructions for every task. No experience is needed.​

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Morning Shift: Food Box Preparation (8:00 AM – 11:00 AM)

Most volunteers begin with building the hundreds of food boxes we give out later in the day.

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How to Properly Fill a Dry Goods Box

Dry goods boxes should be filled with as much food as possible, according to the following filling order:

1. Cans

2. Jars

3. Bottles

4. Boxes

5. Heavy Bags (e.g. rice, beans, etc.)

6. Large, light bags (ie chips)

7. Small, light goods (crackers, small cereal boxes, fruit cups, etc)

8. Refrigerated goods (after 10:30 AM)

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Place items into boxes as gently as possible (avoid throwing cans, for example) and try to evenly distribute items. Following the filling order will ensure an evenly distributed, structurally stable box for easier handling and distribution.

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Box filling follows a "first in, first out" order where boxes on the conveyor belt are prioritized. Next, the boxes on tables starting from the front, ending in the back.

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Safety Basics

• Lift with a partner when in doubt

• Wear gloves when handling food

• Open cases carefully (cut away from the body)

• Never place food directly on the floor—use tables, carts, or pallets

• Ask a lead before unwrapping a pallet

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Afternoon Shift: Distribution & Clean-Up (12:00 PM – 3:00 PM)

This shift is more active and fast-paced as we serve hundreds of clients in a span of a few hours. Distribution is done in a walk-up manner, where clients receive a box of dry goods, box of produce, frozen items like meat, bread and/or pastries, and miscellaneous pantry items. The clients are escorted through different stations to "shop" for their food, then a volunteer accompanies them to their car and loads their boxes for them.

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Here's an overview of the process from start to finish with descriptions of different roles required:

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1. Check-in

A volunteer at the registration desk calls a number corresponding to a ticket a client received earlier in the day (once all tickets are called, walk-ups are welcomed on a first-come, first-serve basis)

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2. Loading Boxes

A runner with a cart greets the client, then Loaders at the produce pallet and front of the conveyor belt load the cart with a produce box and dry goods box.

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Runners are responsible for accompanying clients through the stations and loading items into their car. Runners should always be the one handling the heavy boxes and should always leave their cart attended.

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3. Frozen Station

A Frozen Station Assistant asks the client to choose frozen items like meat or meals and hands them to the Runner to place in their cart.

The Frozen Station Runner restocks frozen items from the freezer as needed during distribution.

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4. Bread & Dessert Station

Bread & dessert station assistants inform the client how many pieces of bread or dessert items they are allowed to receive, then hands their choices to the runner.

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5. Pantry & Extra Items Station

A pantry & extra items assistant offers clients additional items from the pantry or extra items like additional produce, milk, etc.

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6. Loading Cars

The runner then takes the finished cart to the client's car, carefully loads their boxes, then returns with the cart to the registration desk to wait for their next client.

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7. Pushing Boxes

As boxes are distributed, Pushers along the conveyor belt area help push boxes forward for Loaders. They also move boxes from the tables onto the conveyor belt. In some cases, Pushers help create additional boxes if we run out of dry goods boxes during distribution with help from the Lead.​