Volunteer Opportunities

Please see below for our upcoming volunteer needs. If you are interested in volunteering for any of the below events please fill out the Volunteer Registration Form. After you register, you will receive an email asking which dates you're interested in among other information regarding volunteering.

Interested in volunteering?

To get started, please fill out our volunteer registration form.
Volunteer Registration Form

Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)

Pack Senior Food Boxes

This opportunity consists of packing nutritionally balanced monthly food boxes for The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). CSFP provides nutrient-rich foods to older adults with low-income. Each box is packed based on the MyPlate nutritional guide. Items are packed using an assembly line format in a warehouse setting. Packing boxes involves standing at a station, unpackaging items from a pallet, lifting items from a pallet, and putting the assigned items in the food box. These events typically run for 4 hours with a break half-way through. Depending on speed and number of volunteers the event may end early. The goal is to pack about 360 boxes of food. 6-8 volunteers are needed for each packing day so this could be a great team building opportunity for a group or a way to meet new people and help your community without direct contact with the public.

View Dates & Sign-Up


Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)

Distribute Senior Food Boxes

These one-day distributions include providing eligible households with a nutritionally balanced food box through The Commodity Supplemental Food Program. Volunteers are needed to help set-up/clean-up event, collect and record client information, direct traffic, and load food boxes into cars. These events take place outside so volunteers should plan accordingly based on forecasted weather. Volunteer roles may include significant interaction with the public.

View Dates & Sign-Up


The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

Pack Food Boxes

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of people with low income by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. This volunteer opportunity consists of packaging items into boxes using an assembly line format. Roles include constructing cardboard boxes, loading boxes with food items, moving boxes onto skids, and clean up. Shifts are normally 2 hours a piece. Depending on our speed and number of volunteers we may end early. This is a great opportunity to serve our community without direct contact with the public.

View Dates & Sign-Up


The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

Distribute Food Boxes

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of people with low income by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. Volunteers are needed to help set-up/clean-up event, collect and record client information, direct traffic, and load food boxes and items into cars. These events take place outside so volunteers should plan accordingly based on forecasted weather. Volunteer roles may include significant interaction with the public.

View Dates & Sign-Up


Community Partner Distributions

If you are interested in volunteering with one of our community partners, reference their distribution dates below. Please contact them for more information on volunteer needs.

The Green Apple

(616) 454-9411
Volunteer Dates
  • Wednesday, August 30 – Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Volunteer Times and Shifts: During pantry hours
Where: 4307 Kalamazoo Ave Se, Grand Rapids, MI 49508

Peace Lutheran Church

(616) 887-9417
Volunteer Dates
  • Thursday, September 14 – Thursday, September 21, 2023
Volunteer Times and Shifts: Times of need vary
Where: 1225 12 Mile Rd NW, Sparta, MI 49345

South East Community Outreach Ministries (SECOM) Resource Center

(616) 452-7684
Volunteer Dates
  • Thursday, September 14 – Thursday, September 21, 2023
Volunteer Times and Shifts: Times of need vary
Where: 1545 Buchanan Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49507

Flat River Outreach Ministries

(616) 897-8260
Volunteer Dates
  • Wednesday, November 1 – Friday, November 10, 2023
Volunteer Times and Shifts: During pantry hours
Where: 11535 Fulton St E, Lowell, MI 49331

North Kent Connect

(616) 866-3478
Volunteer Dates
  • Monday, November 6 – Thursday, November 9, 2023
Volunteer Times and Shifts: Times of need vary
Where: 10075 Northland Dr NE, Rockford, MI 49341

Byron Community Ministries

(616) 878-6000
Volunteer Dates
  • Throughout the month of November 2023
Volunteer Times and Shifts: During pantry hours
Where: 8250 Byron Creek Dr, Byron Center, MI 49315
  • Non-Discrimination Statement

    In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

    Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

    To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD- 3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online by clicking here, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

    • Mail
      U.S. Department of Agriculture
      Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
      1400 Independence Avenue, SW
      Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
    • Fax
      (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
    • Email
      program.intake@usda.gov
  • Non-Discrimination Statement - Spanish

    De acuerdo con la ley federal de derechos civiles y las normas y políticas de derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA), esta entidad está prohibida de discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo (incluyendo identidad de género y orientación sexual), discapacidad, edad, o represalia o retorsión por actividades previas de derechos civiles.

    La información sobre el programa puede estar disponible en otros idiomas que no sean el inglés. Las personas con discapacidades que requieren medios alternos de comunicación para obtener la información del programa (por ejemplo, Braille, letra grande, cinta de audio, lenguaje de señas americano (ASL), etc.) deben comunicarse con la agencia local o estatal responsable de administrar el programa o con el Centro TARGET del USDA al (202) 720-2600 (voz y TTY) o comuníquese con el USDA a través del Servicio Federal de Retransmisión al (800) 877-8339.

    Para presentar una queja por discriminación en el programa, el reclamante debe llenar un formulario AD-3027, formulario de queja por discriminación en el programa del USDA, el cual puede obtenerse en línea, de cualquier oficina de USDA, llamando al (866) 632-9992, o escribiendo una carta dirigida a USDA. La carta debe contener el nombre del demandante, la dirección, el número de teléfono y una descripción escrita de la acción discriminatoria alegada con suficiente detalle para informar al Subsecretario de Derechos Civiles (ASCR) sobre la naturaleza y fecha de una presunta violación de derechos civiles. El formulario AD-3027 completado o la carta debe presentarse a USDA por:

    1. Correo:
      U.S. Department of Agriculture
      Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
      1400 Independence Avenue, SW
      Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
    2. Fax: (833) 256-1665 o (202) 690-7442; or
    3. Correo Electrónico: program.intake@usda.gov

    Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.