Does anyone volunteer at a food bank?

[HeatedDryer]

And if so what sort of things do you do? I'm thinking of doing this in the New Year, I could commit to once a week. Thanks.

I volunteer around once a week. When I go there aren’t any customers/clients. I check that the donations are within their sell by/use by and aren’t damaged (Or too bizarre...spam tends to go on a separate area as a ‘bonus’ section for clients to take if they can use but not in our normal packs!). I then sort items into different categories and create ‘packs’ which have complimentary products e.g pasta and pasta source. I find it very mindful and peaceful.

That actually sounds like something I could really enjoy, thank you for replying.

I used to volunteer at one many moons ago. Basically my 'job' was to check the expiration dates, make sure nothing is damaged i.e. no holes in packaging etc, do inventory, and put them into boxes according to this chart we had. Pretty similar to PP's experience!

The one local to me offers various roles. These include picking food up from collection points in supermarkets,sorting and dating food,packing food parcels for those in need and admin roles.

I volunteered to ours and no one replied to my emails...might try and follow up in the new year

I volunteer 1 day per week (a 4 hr shift) There are various roles such as greeter, form ‘checker’, shelf filler, packer etc and also people manning the kitchen. We have a housing advice and a money advice Person to help people with their financial/housing problems. Training is provided for the roles where we deal with the actual admin of the foodbank vouchers but some people prefer just to do the shelf filling/packing roles. It is usually an all hands on deck situation and all roles are equally necessary.

Thanks everyone it sounds really interesting, I'm going to look into it in the New Year

@bestbefore I think you should contact them again. I know some small local charities, especially ones like homelessness charities, aren't keen on taking on volunteers in the run up to Christmas because a lot of people join up because of 'Christmas spirit' and then disappear in the New Year when it's worn off.

It can be hard for smaller charities to deal with that as it can be a lot of effort and workers man hours to get a volunteer on the books and trained up - if 90% of them disappear again it's a real drain on their resources.

The food bank you contacted might be in a similar position.

I do an admin role. I like it as I can just do it from home. Go for it, hope you find something.

I help with completing housing assessment forms, benefit applications, giving benefit and income maximisation advice and so on - so not strictly a food bank role, but a necessary one all the same. I did it professionally in a former life so have the skills.

The food bank I volunteer with needs volunteers for all sorts - collecting the donations from all donation points in the area; sorting and shelving food; making up parcels; right through to making tea and coffee for service users and sitting down for a chat and to give some support.

Years ago I volunteered at a Soup Kitchen - prepped veg and made a vatload of custard

Me too bestbefore

At least, they did reply, to say there were no vacancies. I tried a couple of local ones too. It’s harder than you’d think to get a place.

Ours only wants fund raisers. Shake a bucket & smile. I hate it so not involved.

My mum does, she does it once a week. The stories she tells are heartbreaking and she's got to know many regulars well. She hands out the packages and has a chat. Basically helps the people using it still feel respected and human.

I am starting a food bank volunteer job in January.

happycamper I think I would like that kind of role, although I am sure it must be very difficult at times. I'm sure your mum makes a big difference to those people.

absopugginglutely good luck!

Me too bestbefore, applied for a volunteer role in the summer but had no response to the form I completed; another seemed v keen but emailed me asking me to collect cash at a couple of local events on days/times which I simply couldn’t make (I had previously given them the days/times I could do) and then never heard from them again. I don’t feel able to chase either up in case I’m simply not what they’re looking for!

@DoIhavetobejolly I didn't apply at Christmas - it was in response to a call for volunteers at another time. Was surprised to not get a response to be honest and it did put me off.
I can appreciate what you mean about pre Christmas volunteers though. Will def chase it again in the new year. Like others have said I would prefer a hands on role rather than a tin shaking one...

@FMFL shame, suppose it's perhaps run by volunteers who perhaps don't have a very comphrensive system. Shame though when they probably do need help.

I applied locally and nationally. After a while got a response saying "come to raise awareness at local supermarket, we'll email again with more details" and that was the last I heard 🤷🏻‍♀️

She does it with the Trussel Trust OP, perhaps contact them

happycamper that's great, thank you I will look them up

A lady I used to know told me how she volunteered at our local food bank but stopped as she found the other volunteers made her feel very uncomfortable. And unwelcome.

She said they would ask her what church she Attended, when she said she didn’t attend any they barely spoke to her.
Strange, as I don’t believe it had any connection to churches. And a shame as she was there to really help people.