Food Distribution and Warehouse Support Volunteer

Program:

The Hand Up Food Pantry believes in helping clients reach self-sufficiency by providing hand-up - not just a hand-out - to clients experiencing food insecurity. We connect clients to a variety of JFS and community resources in addition to providing food relief. We make and distribute nearly 1,500 meals and hundreds of pounds of groceries each day to individuals and families through our Home-Delivered Meals programs, onsite emergency food distributions. Corner Market, SmartChoice online ordering platform, and community food distributions throughout San Diego County. The JFS Warehouse is located at our main office at 8804 Balboa Avenue, where we receive and process thousands of pounds of food donations daily, and pick and pack orders for home, offsite, and in-person distribution.

Goal of Position:

In this dynamic and reimagined role, Volunteers can make a real difference in the lives of our neighbors struggling with food insecurity in a tangible way. Each shift will allow Volunteers to do a variety of tasks depending on the day’s focus. Tasks may include: packing frozen home-delivered meals boxes; assisting drivers to get their vehicles packed and ready to go; packing and distributing emergency food bags to clients during drive-up hours; preparing SmartChoice orders; checking-in clients as they arrive for appointments; gathering food boxes and bags and/or helping to load vehicles with their orders; sorting through food donations; gleaning and bagging produce; helping to restock the Corner Market; other tasks as needed.

Responsibilities:

• Provide excellent customer service and friendly and professional interactions to all drive-up clients
• Retrieve orders in their entirety from the pantry and refrigerator as needed
• Replenish produce and bread racks as necessary
• Help clients load groceries into their cars
• Prepare boxes of freshly prepared frozen meals for home delivery
• Stock food pantry shelves 
• Assemble food bags for SmartChoice online order distribution
• Assemble and distribute emergency food bags
• Help to pack and load boxes into Home-Delivered Meals driver vehicles
• Assist with bagging produce and sorting through food donations as needed
• Provide at least 24-hour notice if you need to cancel your scheduled shift
• Check in with reception before making your way to your assigned work area

Qualifications:

• Must be 15+ to volunteer independently, or 10-14 years of age if accompanied by a parent or guardian (contact volunteer@jfssd.org to get your children scheduled with you)
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds
• Able to bend, twist and lift and remain standing for extended periods of time.
• Wear closed-toed shoes and clothes that you don't mind getting dirty (bring layers for the weather as needed)
• Wear safety gear as needed
• Wash hands before handling food and follow all food safety guidelines
• Be able to work in a fast-paced and often physically intense environment
• Be able to provide own transportation to the Turk Family Center at 8804 Balboa Ave
• Be willing to work outdoors (canopy provided for shade and shelter) and inside the warehouse as needed
• Complete and sign Volunteer waiver

Time Commitment:

• 2-3 hours per shift (depending on day and time)

*If you feel you would be unable to meet the physical demands of the opportunity, please reach out to volunteer@jfssd.org before scheduling a shift to discuss possible accommodations or alternative opportunities.