HOW YOU CAN
Volunteer with Us
We wouldn’t be where we are today without the support of our community. If a community is defined by how its people care for one another during trying times, we have one of the best communities in the Bay Area.
Even with the uncertainty that 2020 brought, our support system - our volunteers - helped us live out our mission. With shelter in place in effect, old and new volunteers alike stepped up. Volunteers assembled bag lunches and hygiene kits from home while following COVID-19 protocols or attended our weekly (socially-distanced) brown bag lunch events at our building.
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 during these times!
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?
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.”