VOLUNTEER

Get Involved

Everything we do is accomplished through the generosity of time from more than one thousand volunteers. We have no paid employees. When you volunteer with BPNN, you can feel satisfaction knowing you are helping families and meeting neighbors who also value giving their time and talents to help. Join us and become part of something great and make a difference in people’s lives.

STEP 1

Volunteers at BPNN need to be able to work independently, quickly, and safely after an orientation and a brief job-specific training session. Begin your volunteer journey by signing up for orientation. We offer New Volunteer Orientation on Thursday afternoons and one or two Saturday mornings a month. Once you submit your registration form below you will receive a link to our SignUp calendar to schedule your orientation.

Because we are an all-volunteer organization, we don’t have the capacity to support volunteers that cannot do a variety of jobs without ongoing direction. For individuals needing extended training or special accommodation, click here.

Get Started

STEP 2

After orientation, you’ll receive access to a SignUp calendar that shows all our kitchen and pantry volunteer shifts. It’s easy to select from dozens of shifts available each day at BPNN. You pick and choose when and how often you would like to volunteer!

REGISTER FOR NEW VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION

Submitting this form will provide you with a link to our New Volunteer Orientation schedule. Follow the link to select an upcoming orientation session.

Group of people volunteering

In a recent volunteer survey, 90% of volunteers feel welcome and appreciated and nearly every respondent said the work they do at BPNN makes a difference.

Ways You Can Help

Woman helping to stack food pantry shelves

Help in the Food Pantry

Find your fit in one of the many jobs in the pantry. Here are a few popular examples:

  • Pantry Shopping Support – Keep the store stocked and help guests during open pantry hours.

  • Produce Prep – Check, clean and display produce for distribution.

  • Guest Services – Register and greet guests.  

  • Bilingual Interpreter – Must be comfortable speaking both Spanish and English.

  • Retail Food Recovery – Pick up food from Costco, Festival Foods, Kwik Trip & more.

Volunteers in food pantry kitchen packaging food

Join a Food Repackaging Shift

Help us repackage prepared food from commercial cafeterias into grab-n-go meals for food pantry distribution. We have a variety of weekday afternoon and evening shifts.

Learn about our Kitchen-to-Table program. ⟶

Sign up for a Community Meal

It takes many hands to run this community event and it’s a fun way to volunteer as a family or group! Shifts include meal prep, serving and dining room attendant.

Check out our Community Meal. ⟶

Volunteers for Flags4Food at Badger Prairie Needs Network

Join the Flags4Food Team

We need volunteers to install flags on Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day to 400 homes and businesses. This popular fundraising program has raised money for more than 300,000 meals. Another great opportunity for groups and families.

Volunteer for Flags4Food ⟶

Three young men hosting a food drive at a grocery store

Organize a Food Drive

Food drives help us stock specific items that are hard to source. Many area businesses, churches, scout groups, and organizations conduct annual food drives.

Learn more about food drives and our most needed items here. ⟶

Group Opportunities

Have fun and do good together! We always need small groups to tackle a variety of projects. Some examples include:

  • Food repackaging

  • Community Meal

  • Sorting food from bulk orders and special shipments

  • Flags4Food installations

  • Building or grounds maintenance and cleaning

  • Special events

Learn More ⟶

High school students volunteering

High School & Youth Opportunities

We have a variety of volunteer options that are suitable for ages 14* and older. All volunteers under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian complete the release of liability form below and bring it with you. (*Youth ages 14-15 must volunteer with a parent or guardian).

Here’s what people are saying

  • The volunteer work at the pantry gives me an opportunity to serve those in need. I have made new friends that feel the same. The staff always recognizes my efforts and are so appreciative of the things I do. I look forward to coming each time I volunteer.

    ~Phyllis C.

  • Badger Prairie Needs Network is a great place to get involved. Lots of variety of work and flexible scheduling. Bonus - you meet and get to know a lot of nice people

    ~Food Pantry Volunteer

  • BPNN is run by a group of friendly and pleasant volunteers. It’s rewarding and fun to be a part of this organization!

    ~Molly K.

  • Each day my goal is to bring a smile to the faces of guests and to bring some joy to their day - because in doing so, it certainly brings joy to mine!

    ~Food Pantry Volunteer

  • Providing healthy, beautiful food to people that need it is a wonderful way to contribute to our community!

    ~ Gail J.

  • In all my years of volunteer service, I have never found a place as special as the BPNN. They make it so easy to serve with varying ways to help and tons of volunteer opportunities. Give it a try once and I guarantee you’ll want to return.

    ~Food Pantry Volunteer

  • The volunteers are fantastic ... compassionate, kind and fun. I love volunteering here.

    ~Lisa M.

  • Volunteering with BPNN has been a gratifying retirement activity for me.

    ~Kathy H.

Don’t have time?

Make a financial contribution to keep our lights on and pantry stocked.