For more information or for service verification requests, contact Food Bank’s Volunteer Engagement Team at volunteer@foodbanknyc.org.
Volunteer
Volunteers play a central role in powering Food Bank’s mission. Whether packing meal boxes at our warehouse, distributing groceries to our pantry clients, or advocating through social media, you can make an impact in many ways with Food Bank for New York City!
To view a schedule of current volunteer opportunities and create your account, please visit our Volunteer Portal.
SNAP Call Center Support
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford nutritious food essential to health and well-being.
We are seeking bilingual SNAP Call Center Volunteers to work alongside Food Bank’s team of SNAP experts to assist community members in overcoming the hassle in the SNAP application and recertification process.
Volunteers must be bilingual and 18 years or older to participate. Volunteers also must be able to volunteer on an ongoing basis and complete the required training.
SNAP Call Center Support
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford nutritious food essential to health and well-being.
We are seeking bilingual SNAP Call Center Volunteers to work alongside Food Bank’s team of SNAP experts to assist community members in overcoming the hassle in the SNAP application and recertification process.
Volunteers must be bilingual and 18 years or older to participate. Volunteers also must be able to volunteer on an ongoing basis and complete the required training.
Pantry Distribution
Food Bank’s Pantry Distribution shifts take place on weekdays and Saturdays at our Community Kitchen and Pantry in West Harlem. Volunteers will help pack and distribute grocery bags with fresh produce and shelf-stable goods for community members. We rely on volunteers to help us serve hundreds of community members each month!
Volunteers must be at least 14 years old to participate and all volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian. Small groups of up to 9 volunteers (18+) are welcome.
Older Adult Center Support
The Community Kitchen and Pantry in Harlem offers a variety of food support for Seniors who are 60 years of age or older, including the Older Adult Center open every weekday. Volunteers are needed to assist with running various workshops and activities.
Meal Service
Food Bank For New York City’s Community Kitchen distributes nutritious hot meals to hundreds of guests each week. During our Community Meal Service and Senior Lunch Service, our neighbors are invited to come to the Community Kitchen to sit down and enjoy a hot meal. Volunteers are needed to welcome guests and serve these meals in an elevated dining experience.
Volunteers must be 18 years or older to participate. Small groups of up to 6 volunteers are welcome at our Community Meal Service opportunity.
Warehouse Repack
Food Bank’s Warehouse and Food Distribution Center in The Bronx distributes food to member charity agencies throughout the five boroughs, supplying over 70 million meals per year to New Yorkers in need! Volunteers at our warehouse help our staff with our highest-impact initiative by sorting and repacking bulk shipped food and goods for redistribution around the city.
Repack shifts are primarily available for groups of 10-25 volunteers (10 years or older, additional restrictions apply to youth groups) on weekday mornings and afternoons. Please email volunteer@foodbanknyc.org for more information.
For corporate groups, we recommend a sponsorship of $2,000. Individual volunteers may check our Volunteer Portal for available public Repack shifts, which are offered about once a month.
Warehouse Repack
Food Bank’s Warehouse and Food Distribution Center in The Bronx distributes food to member charity agencies throughout the five boroughs, supplying over 70 million meals per year to New Yorkers in need! Volunteers at our warehouse help our staff with our highest-impact initiative by sorting and repacking bulk shipped food and goods for redistribution around the city.
Repack shifts are available for groups of 10-25 volunteers (14 years or older, additional restrictions apply to youth groups) on weekday mornings and afternoons.
Pantry Distribution
Food Bank’s Pantry Distribution shifts take place on weekdays and Saturdays at our Community Kitchen and Pantry in West Harlem. Volunteers will help pack and distribute grocery bags with fresh produce and shelf-stable goods for community members. We rely on volunteers to help us serve hundreds of community members each month!
Small groups of up to 9 volunteers (18+) are welcome.
Community Meal Service
Food Bank For New York City’s Community Kitchen distributes nutritious hot meals to hundreds of guests each week. During our Community Meal Service, our neighbors are invited to come to the Community Kitchen to sit down and enjoy a hot meal. Volunteers are needed to welcome guests and serve these meals in an elevated dining experience.
Small groups of up to 6 volunteers (18+) are welcome.
Build Empathy Through a Face Hunger™ Simulation
Gather a team of 10-25 people to share in the Face Hunger™ Simulation – a highly interactive experience which raises awareness and understanding of hunger and its many causes.
In this virtual or in-person workshop, participants receive a profile packet with information about the identity, income, and available resources of a person at risk of hunger. Each participant embodies a person experiencing hunger through a series of exercises, facing the challenge to provide nutritious meals for their family. Face Hunger™ participants also debrief with a group discussion on their experience to walk away with a new understanding of hunger in New York City.
Each simulation is for up to 25 participants.
Customize a Volunteer Program
Partner with Food Bank to Build a unique volunteer experience that best fits your team or space. Food Bank has delivered custom opportunities to groups in corporate offices, schools, and community organizations including
engaging virtual events to serve together from home. Programs can meet any group’s needs: large or small groups, family-friendly events, corporate team-building retreats, and more. Customized projects include an annual sponsorship fee. To learn more, please contact partner@foodbanknyc.org.
Pack Kits for our Community Kitchen & Pantry
Support Food Bank For New York City from home by preparing kits with essential items to be distributed at our Community Kitchen & Food Pantry!
This is a great activity to do from the comfort of your home or in-office! Check out the guide below for full instructions.
Become A Social Media Ambassador
Food Bank’s Social Media Ambassador Program is a way for volunteers to amplify resources for New Yorkers facing food insecurity, boost Food Bank’s mission on social media, and advocate by using their voices creatively and intentionally online – all while earning volunteer service hours.
Volunteers choose actions to complete (which range from sharing our Food Finder Map, to posting a selfie in orange for Hunger Awareness, to simply commenting on a Food Bank post), tag #FoodBankAmbassador, and document with screenshots to earn service hours for posting.
Join a Virtual Service Event
Food Bank hosts largescale Virtual Service Hours on Zoom, bringing together volunteers from across the country to join in impactful virtual service activities. These events pair virtual service with educational panel conversations on food insecurity topics with guest speakers.
Recent virtual events have included our Virtual Day of Service for MLK Day with guest speaker Reverend Rasheed Baird, and People Get Periods: A Virtual Service Hour and Conversation on Period Poverty with US Congresswoman Grace Meng.
Sign up for our Volunteer Newsletter below to stay up to date on any upcoming virtual events!
Join Us in Fueling Good! Subscribe to our Volunteer Newsletter.
Be a part of our community of dedicated volunteers by signing up to Fueling Good, the Food Bank’s vibrant newsletter celebrating the impact of volunteers like you. Each month, discover inspiring volunteer stories, event highlights, and upcoming opportunities for you to make a difference.
