WAYS YOU CAN HELP AS A VOLUNTEER
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Food Pantry Volunteer Opportunities
1. Food Pantry Host - Ages 14 +. Escort shoppers through the food pantry, stock products on shelves and in coolers, and help with intake of food donations. Training required. Spanish language is a plus. 2. Produce: Prep - Ages 14 +. Accept produce donations and deliveries and check for quality. Clean and prepare produce for distribution through the pantry and create appealing displays to encourage use of fresh produce by pantry patrons. Help keep cooler stocked with milk and other dairy products, eggs, juice, and prepared foods. Some heavy lifting (40LBs) 3. Pantry Stocking - Ages 14 +. Help keep the food pantry shelves fully stocked and tidy. Replenish freezer and cooler items as needed. Check bakery area for expired product and help repackage bulk foods as needed. Shifts are available during shopping hours and on Wednesday evenings. 4. Kids Room helper - Ages 14+. Provide supervision of young children in the kid's room while parents volunteer, shop the pantry, or take classes. Keep the area organized and tidy. |
5. Registration/Information Desk - Ages 21 +. Basic computer skills are necessary and training is required. Enters, verifies and/or updates patron information in the database to register a pantry visit. This volunteer also answers the phone and greets visitors to the facility. Must be comfortable interacting with the public, able to multitask, and be empaothetic and kind.
6. Shift Leader - Ages 21+. Volunteer trained in all aspects of food pantry operations. The shift leader keeps the food pantry operating as efficiently as possible during a specific shift. Tasks may include opening and closing the facility, filling in where needed, keeping volunteers informed about current policies, assisting with donations and deliveries, giving tours, and answering questions that may arise during the shift. As liaison to the Pantry Manager, this person is expected to arrive at least 30 minutes before a shift begins and should be the last person to leave, which sometimes means staying 30-60 minutes beyond public shopping hours.
6. Shift Leader - Ages 21+. Volunteer trained in all aspects of food pantry operations. The shift leader keeps the food pantry operating as efficiently as possible during a specific shift. Tasks may include opening and closing the facility, filling in where needed, keeping volunteers informed about current policies, assisting with donations and deliveries, giving tours, and answering questions that may arise during the shift. As liaison to the Pantry Manager, this person is expected to arrive at least 30 minutes before a shift begins and should be the last person to leave, which sometimes means staying 30-60 minutes beyond public shopping hours.
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Food Repackaging & Community Meals
PLEASE NOTE: Volunteers in the kitchen or dining room must be illness-free for at least 48 hours prior to shift start. Volunteers under 18 need a completed liability waiver signed by a parent before participating. These jobs require standing throughout the shift. 7. Food Repackaging - Ages 14 + (14-15 must have parent/adult supervision) Help repackage ready-to-eat food into containers for distribution to food pantries throughout southern Wisconsin. On some Friday evenings we also help prep for the Saturday community meal. 8. Food Sorting & Cooler Management - Ages 14+. Help sort deli food based on best by dates and food safety tools developed by BPNN. New volunteers that attend orientation actively participated in this process and receive training during the orientation session. |
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9. Meal Crew Captain - Ages 18+. Lead the team that serves the community meal. Setup steamer tables in the dining room, quality check overall room setup, welcome volunteers and provide training on food safety practices. Organize cleanup of dining room after the meal is completed.
10. Community Meal - Ages 14+ (14-15 must have parent/adult supervision) Work with our crew captain to serve the meal (buffet style), greet our guests, (Spanish speaker helpful, but not required), move food from the kitchen to the buffet, and bus dishes from the dining room to the kitchen. All volunteers help with cleanup at end of meal service.
11. Kitchen Assistant - Ages 16+. This team assists the kitchen coordinator and lead chef in the Prairie Kitchen to prepare the community meal. Under the guidance of a food manager, assistants complete food prep tasks and assist with cleanup throughout the morning. Tasks might include cutting, prepping salad dressings, plating desserts, cooking at the griddle, and monitoring stovetops and ovens. Some cleanup tasks in the dish wash station may also be needed.
12. Meal Clean-up - Ages 10+ (Ages 10-13 must have parent/adult supervision) Help with dishes! A trained volunteer operates the commercial dish machine while 2 other volunteers remove sanitized dishes from racks and return them to the proper storage location. Dish room work can be wet so dress accordingly.
13. Food Product Demonstrator - Ages 16+. Prepare recipes to feature items in the food pantry and offer samples and nutrition information to guests waiting for services.
10. Community Meal - Ages 14+ (14-15 must have parent/adult supervision) Work with our crew captain to serve the meal (buffet style), greet our guests, (Spanish speaker helpful, but not required), move food from the kitchen to the buffet, and bus dishes from the dining room to the kitchen. All volunteers help with cleanup at end of meal service.
11. Kitchen Assistant - Ages 16+. This team assists the kitchen coordinator and lead chef in the Prairie Kitchen to prepare the community meal. Under the guidance of a food manager, assistants complete food prep tasks and assist with cleanup throughout the morning. Tasks might include cutting, prepping salad dressings, plating desserts, cooking at the griddle, and monitoring stovetops and ovens. Some cleanup tasks in the dish wash station may also be needed.
12. Meal Clean-up - Ages 10+ (Ages 10-13 must have parent/adult supervision) Help with dishes! A trained volunteer operates the commercial dish machine while 2 other volunteers remove sanitized dishes from racks and return them to the proper storage location. Dish room work can be wet so dress accordingly.
13. Food Product Demonstrator - Ages 16+. Prepare recipes to feature items in the food pantry and offer samples and nutrition information to guests waiting for services.
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Food Recovery
14. Food Recovery - Ages 18+. On a regular basis, pickup food from assigned locations and deliver to BPNusing your own vehicle. Process food as needed (weigh, refrigerate, sort, etc. to prepare it for distribution through the food pantry.) There are a wide variety of food rescues needed each week throughout Madison, Verona, and Fitchburg. 15. Van Drivers (21+) & Helpers (16+). Volunteers with valid DL and good driving record are needed to drive the refrigerated Ford Transit van. Helpers ride along and assist with loading/unloading. This shifts are routes where multiple stops are often included. Building Maintenance / Grounds 16. Facility Maintenance/Handyman - Help keep the inside of the facility looking good and operating well. Light maintenance on the interior of the facility (painting, light carpentry, lightbulb changing, etc.) is always needed. Relevant experience preferred. |
17. Groundskeeper - Help keep the planters and garden beds around the building looking good throughout the growing season. Volunteers do the planting - you help keep it looking good. Involves pruning rose bushes, applying fertilizer as needed, watering during dry spells. No mowing!
18. Gardening Team – All Ages. Gardens need love and attention to thrive…we have a group of volunteers that provide both. Meet with other volunteers at the gardens throughout the growing season and do a bit of weeding and harvesting. No previous gardening experience is needed. Watch for seasonal posting on schedule (June - September)
Other
19. Legal Advocacy. Law students and practicing or retired attorneys assist individuals with landlord/tenant, consumer law, elder law, and restraining orders. This team accepts referrals through established social service agency partners and affiliated faith communities. Cases are handled at no fee to the individuals assisted. Case assignments are made by an experienced licensed attorney. Contact President@BPNN.org directly if interested in this area.
20. Grant Writing/Public Relations/Marketing - Experienced grant writers are needed to identify relevant opportunities and write grant proposals. Digital and print marketers are needed to manage social media accounts, design and develop graphics and print materials, and develop video posts. Relevant experience preferred. Contact mk@BPNN.org directly if interested in volunteering in this area.
18. Gardening Team – All Ages. Gardens need love and attention to thrive…we have a group of volunteers that provide both. Meet with other volunteers at the gardens throughout the growing season and do a bit of weeding and harvesting. No previous gardening experience is needed. Watch for seasonal posting on schedule (June - September)
Other
19. Legal Advocacy. Law students and practicing or retired attorneys assist individuals with landlord/tenant, consumer law, elder law, and restraining orders. This team accepts referrals through established social service agency partners and affiliated faith communities. Cases are handled at no fee to the individuals assisted. Case assignments are made by an experienced licensed attorney. Contact President@BPNN.org directly if interested in this area.
20. Grant Writing/Public Relations/Marketing - Experienced grant writers are needed to identify relevant opportunities and write grant proposals. Digital and print marketers are needed to manage social media accounts, design and develop graphics and print materials, and develop video posts. Relevant experience preferred. Contact mk@BPNN.org directly if interested in volunteering in this area.