Volunteer FAQs

Yes. We still need the help of volunteers to keep distributing food to the community. To help protect the health of volunteers and staff, we have made significant changes to our volunteer program. Now, we are: 

• Reducing the number of volunteers at each shift. 

• Cutting non-essential projects. Only critical volunteer projects will continue. For example, packing senior boxes and grocery bags for delivery to homebound neighbors. 

• Conducting shifts outside, when possible. 

• Asking volunteers to maintain a healthy distance from one another. 

All other best practices – cleaning surfaces regularly, providing hand sanitizer, wearing gloves, and making masks available – still apply. 

At this time, the Food Bank is still fully operational. As indicated in the new public health order that requires residents to stay home except for essential needs, food banks are an essential service similar to a grocery store. Now, more than ever, our continued efforts will be critical to ensure that our most vulnerable neighbors get access to the food they need to weather the pandemic. 

We can’t provide food without volunteers.  We have made significant changes to our volunteer program (see above) to help protect the health of our staff and volunteers.   

It’s understandable that there are concerns about volunteering. We are in close contact with the SF Department of Public Health and are following their recommendations. In response to the COVID-19 situation, we have doubled down on cleaning, hand washing, and, of course, we have hand sanitizer and disinfectant readily available. The volunteers use gloves, and we are mindful of spacing per CDC guidelines.  

 We understand this is a balance, and individuals should consider their own health and well-being before deciding whether or not to volunteer. We are closely monitoring the situation, and reevaluating our operations daily. We will continue to communicate further changes with the broader community as the situation unfolds. 

To protect the health of our volunteers, and staff, we have made some changes to our volunteer program (see above). And we are increasing the frequency of cleaning surfaces and have increased the number of hand sanitizer stations throughout the facility. Volunteers use gloves and we ask that they keep a reasonable distance from one another and practice the suggested CDC personal safety routines.  

If volunteers or staff arrive who are sick, we are requesting they go home until they are well.  

That said, individuals should consider their own health and well-being before deciding whether or not to volunteer. We are closely monitoring the situation, and reevaluating our operations daily. We will continue to communicate further changes with the broader community as the situation unfolds. 

 Please, stay home. Take care of yourself.  

In the warehouse, our volunteers assist with gleaning produce, repackaging food items, sorting through food donations, assembling grocery boxes for senior, and many other projects. 

Out in the community, we need help with food distributions at the pantries. Volunteers at these pantries help with bagging the groceries, distribution, breakdown, and cleanup. 

Scheduling a Food Bank volunteer shift is easy.
Start by viewing the volunteer schedule, then register online.

San Francisco volunteer schedule (Pennsylvania Warehouse)
San Francisco volunteer schedule (Illinois Warehouse)
Marin volunteer schedule

Please note that we are unable to accommodate drop-in volunteers.
Making advance reservations allows us to plan adequately for our projects and distributions.

Volunteering at the Food Bank is a great team-building opportunity. We are able to accommodate groups of all sizes during one or multiple-project shifts.

If you’re scheduling for a team of 25 or more, please make an online reservation then contact us so we can confirm your reservation and discuss your project.

Yes, within the following guidelines:

High school students can volunteer for any of our shifts. Student groups require one adult chaperone for every ten students.

Weekdays are available for youth who are 11 years old and older to volunteer for any of our shifts. Middle school student groups require one adult chaperone for every five students.

Weekends are available for younger children. In San Francisco, volunteers must be at least 8 years old on Saturdays at our Pennsylvania Warehouse only.  Every child aged 10 and younger must be accompanied by an adult to ensure safety in our busy warehouse.

Chaperones: please check out our helpful guidelines to ensure a safe and productive visit.

If you are volunteering as a requirement of community service hours the Volunteer Services team can sign and/or provide you with verification of all your hours after completion. Please check out our Verified Service Hour guidelines to ensure all of your time spent with us is documented properly before making your request. 

Year-round volunteer support is essential for the Food Bank, helping us quickly and efficiently get food to people in need. Our volunteer community assists with gleaning produce, repacking bulk food items, sorting through food donations, assembling grocery boxes, and many other projects in the warehouse and community. Food Bank volunteers provide work equivalent to 70 full-time employees, a crucial contribution to our fight against hunger.

We have two warehouses in San Francisco both the Potrero Hill/Dogpatch neighborhoods.
Pennsylvania Warehouse: 900 Pennsylvania Ave (at 23rd Street). Directions >
Illinois Warehouse: 1050 Marin Street (at Illinois).

Our Marin warehouse is located in San Rafael at 2550 Kerner Boulevard. Directions >

San Francisco

Parking on Pennsylvania is currently very inconsistent due to construction in the area (parking on Indiana Street is great!). Please pay attention to new parking meters on 23^rd and 25^th Streets. Click here to see specifics. Please allow an extra 15-20 minutes for parking before your shift. Click here for directions to the Food Bank located at 900 Pennsylvania Ave. (cross street 23^rd).

Marin
Volunteers are welcome to park in our parking lot. For your safety and the safety of our workers, please enter through the front of our office, and not through the warehouse. If you happen to park on the warehouse side, you can walk through the side walkway of the building to come through the front door.

Currently we are releasing volunteer shifts on a rolling 2 week basis.  We altered this schedule to give us increased flexibility with the ever changing needs and protocols as we respond to COVID-19.  You can view our volunteer portal at: www.volunteering.sfmfoodbank.org 

Volunteers must wear closed-toe shoes to participate in warehouse projects — no sandals, flip-flops or open-toe shoes. We ask that you dress comfortably and respectfully. A sweatshirt or extra layer is recommended, as the temperature in our warehouse is often quite cool.