Volunteers are the heart and soul of Philabundance and we couldn’t do what we do without you!Pamela Rainey-Lawler, Philabundance Founder
Volunteers are needed to pick up food from local grocery stores and deliver it to neighborhood agencies. This is a great opportunity to volunteer in your community, working to reduce food waste and get food to folks who need it.
Located in South Philadelphia, the Hunger Relief Center is Philabundance’s hub of volunteer activity. Volunteers help pack and sort donated food and prepare it for distribution to our neighbors in need. The Hunger Relief Center is a great opportunity for individuals or groups up to 30 who are looking to give back.
With 40% of America’s food going to waste unnecessarily, you can help rescue perfectly good produce AND help those in need! Come check out our Produce Rescue volunteer shift at the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market! We work directly with the world’s largest refrigerated market to glean nutritious produce that would have been thrown out because it wasn’t cosmetically pleasing. Every Friday morning (8:30 am – 12:30 pm) we run volunteer shifts that sort & glean an average of 15,000lbs of produce each shift – great for groups of up to 20!
Like a traveling farmers’ market, Philabundance’s Fresh Food For All program provides produce to those in need at multiple sites across the Delaware Valley. Volunteers help with set-up and clean-up, interact with clients and give out much-needed fruits and vegetables.
We have dozens of partners agencies who need volunteer assistance. Volunteers may be helping in the kitchen with food preparation and packing meals, or in a warehouse helping with assembly, stocking and inventory.
You can sign up for shifts here. If you have specific questions or would like to register a group, please email the volunteer department (Volunteer@philabundance.org) or call 215-339-0900.
The Hunger Relief Center and the Wholesale Produce Market are both great for groups of up to 30 and 20 respectively. Submit your group request through our volunteer website.
– Hunger Relief Center volunteers must be 16 years or older to volunteer alone or 14 years or older if they attend with an adult
– Fresh for All volunteers must be 18 years of age or older or 14 and older with an adult.
– Kids program volunteers must be 18 years of age or older.
– Once a month we host a Family Night for volunteers as young as 8 years old.
You can sign up for shifts on our volunteer calendar, but we are unable to guarantee a set number of hours. We also are not able to provide one-on-one supervision at this time.
All volunteers must wear closed-toed shoes (no sandals or flip flops allowed) and comfortable clothing. Specific attire instructions will be sent to you in your confirmation email when you register for a shift.
Shifts marked “Full” or “Reserved” have already reached capacity and cannot accommodate more volunteers. Please find another shift that works for your schedule.
All of our shifts are listed on our volunteer calendar. At this time we are unable to accommodate requests outside of the shifts listed on the calendar.
We accept court-ordered community service on a case-by-case basis. Volunteers must first apply.
Yes, the Volunteer Department staff can provide a standard form to verify hours or sign documentation that you bring in. Please ask for this at the beginning of your shift. Letters of recommendation will be written on a case-by-case basis.
Yes, please! We accept donations of all non-perishable food during your volunteer shift. Check out a list of our most needed items.
You can check out all of our volunteer opportunities on our online calendar. You can also subscribe to our VolunteerFeed E-Newsletter, and follow us on Facebook.
Philabundance is closed on all major holidays. We provide food to many agencies that may be open and in need of help serving food – view a list of alternate volunteering locations. Please note: during the winter holidays, from November 1 through December 31, food banks and other agencies are often booked months in advance, and receive many requests for help; Consider volunteering or donating in slower times of the year, like the spring or summer.
Free parking is available at all of our volunteer sites.
