Program:
Foodmobile delivers warm kosher-style meals to San Diego's home-bound older adults and disabled younger adults. Volunteers are often the only visitors individuals have, making their smiles, time, and compassion go a long way for our clients! Warm meals and warm smiles are the essence of the Foodmobile program.
Goal of Position:
Volunteers assist in a critical area of need and help alleviate hunger in San Diego. The goal of this position is not only to fight food insecurity, but also to foster community relationships. Much more than a meal, volunteers provide a positive interaction in the lives of the older adults they serve. Foodmobile Volunteer Passengers assist drivers by providing home deliveries of hot meal bags and/or pre-packaged groceries. This role is both physically and emotionally supportive, and is great for those who no longer drive, are unable or unwilling to drive, or for minor children accompanying a fully vetted, adult volunteer.
Responsibilities:
- Schedule shifts in Galaxy Digital.
- Wear closed-toed shoes and comfortable clothes (bringing a jacket or wearing layers is recommended).
- Adhere to Food Safety & Food Handling guidelines at all times.
- Maintain confidentiality of all client information (i.e. in your phone or on paper you should not include last names, addresses, or indicate their client status with JFS, etc.)
- Knock on door, ring doorbell, and/or call client upon arrival. Hand over meals or carry meals into homes (if asked and willing).
- Never leave meals unattended, unless the client is home and does not want to accept the meals face to face.
- If the client or caregiver does not answer the door or phone to accept the meal bags, the volunteer driver must call their JFS contact to report the situation. HOT MEALS & GROCERY ITEMS SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT BACK TO JFS MAIN CAMPUS - PLEASE GIVE FOOD TO ANOTHER CLIENT.
- At the end of the shift, volunteers call, text, or email their JFS contact to confirm completion of the route and report any unusual circumstances and difficulties they experienced. Volunteers send a photo of the food transport log to the JFS contact by email or text as soon as possible after the shift is completed.
- Return empty hot/cold bags to JFS campus.
- By the last day of each month, volunteer must log their hours into Galaxy Digital.
- Please note: Non-Driving passengers are not eligible for mileage reimbursement.
Qualifications:
Volunteers are allowed to serve as Home-Delivered Meals Passengers to assist with navigation and delivering meals. All passengers under 18 helping deliver meals must be under the supervision of a vetted volunteer driver (i.e., parent/guardian) at all times. As this volunteer opportunity requires frequent stops to deliver 25-pound boxes to each client’s door, we do not suggest children requiring car seats or hand-holding participate. However, this position provides a meaningful family opportunity, especially for those with teens gaining experience and completing hours for local community service groups.
Non-driving Passenger Volunteers must complete the following before scheduling a shift or riding along:
- Able to commit to the entire shift.
- Complete and maintain a Volunteer profile in Galaxy Digital.
- Review and sign JFS Volunteer Waiver (parent or guardian will sign on behalf of minors).
- Review HIPAA confidentiality requirements and complete/sign the acknowledgement form (18 years or older only).
- Complete and pass background check (18 years or older only).
- Obtain and maintain a Food Handler's Certificate (18 years or older only, renewable every 3 years) - certification will be provided at JFS free of charge.
Please CLICK HERE to go to the FOODMOBILE DRIVER opportunity in Galaxy Digital.
After Signing Up for a Shift:
• You will receive a confirmation email with instructions the day before reporting for route
Time Commitment:
- Minimum 3 month commitment preferred
- Volunteer shifts will be between the hours of 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM Monday – Friday
- Volunteer shifts will last about 2 hours
