HOW YOU CAN
Volunteer with Us
Each year, we are fortunate to have volunteers - everyone from grade school to individuals who are retired - generously donate their time to Loaves & Fishes. These volunteers fuel our organization and we are so proud and humbled by their service and commitment to the Bay Area community.
By volunteering with us, you are not only helping us to keep our labor costs down, but you are helping us to meet the significantly increased need for our meal services. Many more individuals are going hungry, and you are helping to remind them that they are cared for and supported. You are feeding their hearts as much as you are feeding their stomachs.
We couldn’t be more grateful for your support!
Volunteer Opportunities
Are you a former Jerry Larson FoodBasket volunteer? Welcome back!
Click here to log into your Personal Volunteer Portal to sign up for new shifts, look up your volunteer information, cancel an upcoming shift, and more. If you have any questions, email volunteer@loavesfishes.org.
Volunteer Activities at the FoodBasket include:
Free Grocery, FoodBasket Sort & Store, Meals on Wheels Pack-out, Meals on Wheels Prep, Grocery Set Up, Grocery Attendant, Grocery Bag Assembly, and Meals on Wheels Driver
BECOME A
Corporate Volunteer
…by having your organization participate in our
BROWN BAG LUNCH / HYGIENE KIT BUILDING PROGRAM
First launched in 2018, this program has served as a way for teams to help feed hungry families, children, seniors, veterans, students, and disabled individuals throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. In addition to feeding the community, the hygiene kit building portion of the program was added to help provide families, children, seniors, veterans, students, the disabled, and individuals experiencing homelessness throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo counties with other essential basic needs. Hygiene kit contents typically include soap, shampoo, washcloths, razors, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and deodorant.
Volunteer FAQs
What will I do as a volunteer?
Volunteer activities include meal preparation, set-up of the dining hall, serving of the food and drinks, and clean-up. Each meal shift lasts 2 hours. Community Garden volunteer shifts last 3 hours. Please sign in when you arrive and you will be assigned tasks and given instructions on what to do. Staff and Volunteer Team Leaders will be on site to answer any questions.
What should I bring?
Your energy and willigness to help our guests. We will supply you with disposable gloves and aprons, but feel free to bring your own.
Can an entire group volunteer?
We are happy to have volunteer groups. Please only bring the number of people originally indicated. If you cannot fulfill your commitment (or if there will be fewer participants than expected), please let us know a least a week in advance. We will need to make other arrangements.
What should I wear?
Wear comfortable "work" clothes and closed-toed shoes (i.e., jeans, walking shorts, tennis shoes, etc.) Please do not wear sandals, halter or tank tops, short shorts, etc. For those with longer hair, please wear your hair up and off your face.
Will a meal be provided for me?
Unfortunately, no. We recommend that you eat a snack before coming to the kitchen to help out.
Who can volunteer?
All are welcome! However, volunteers must be 10 years of age or older. Volunteers between 10 and 13 years of age must have adult supervision during their shift. Community Garden volunteer opportunities have an age limit of 18 and older.
What about Community Service hours?
At Loaves & Fishes we welcome students in schools that volunteer to fulfill their community service requirements. Please bring any community service paperwork (time cards, log sheets, etc.) to the kitchen when you volunteer. We only sign off on hours the day they are completed. We do not sign off on hours at later dates due to the amount of volunteers that help us serve everyday.
“I’ve always been so impressed how they truly care about the quality and nutritional value of what we serve our guests. It’s just really satisfying to watch guests leave the monthly food distribution with enough groceries that might mean they can make their rent or pay for medicine.”
“I’ve been volunteering at Loaves & Fishes since I retired ten years ago. I always come away with a satisfied feeling, and though I know feeding the hungry is a task that seems endless, I always receive more than I give. It’s a pleasure to be involved in such an awesome organization.”
Did you know Mayor Sam Liccardo volunteered with Loaves & Fishes as a teenager?
