Volunteer
Volunteer portal sponsored by
We cannot do what we do without YOU.
As an essential business, our community is relying on us to serve them. We remain vigilant in our practices and procedures. We are looking for individuals who can commit to volunteer shifts.
Please view our Volunteer Safety Guidelines before you register to volunteer.
The Food Bank of the Southern Tier’s warehouse receives and distributes millions of pounds of food every year. Each day, volunteers sort and repack that food and other donated items to prepare them for distribution to our Southern Tier communities. We need 500 volunteers every week to help us keep up with the volume of food we receive so no one goes hungry.
You will be asked to e-sign a Volunteer Agreement and Liability Waiver each year. View the waiver.
Be a part of our network of volunteers working to end hunger in the Southern Tier.
Opportunities – What Can I Do?
Sort & Repack
Mobile Food Pantry
Kids' Farmers Market
Gleaning
Corporate Partners
Our corporate partners strengthen their work teams by engaging with the Food Bank of the Southern Tier. Let us help you build your team while helping to feed families across the region.
Opportunities include:
- BackPack RePack at Food Bank and your offsite location)
- Leader of the Pack corporate packing challenge
- Reservation of Food Bank conference room for meals and meetings
- Exclusive invite to our volunteer appreciation event
- Schedule a Behind the Beans tour, Food Banking 101 or Hunger 101 poverty simulation
- Mobile Packing Party at your business or organization
Contact the Volunteer Coordinator, to customize your experience with us!
Frequently Asked Questions – Volunteering
Q: Where is the Food Bank of the Southern Tier?
Q: How do I sign up to volunteer for a shift?
Q: What is the Food Bank's Volunteer Agreement and where do I find it?
Q: What do I do once I arrive at the main facility?
A:When you arrive at the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, a staff member will greet you at the front door, provide you with a fresh clean mask, a disposable nametag and screen you with the following COVID-19 health screening questions.
After successfully answering these questions, you can proceed up the stairs to the volunteer lounge. The production staff will give you a quick orientation with instructions for the project of the day.
Q: Can I arrive late to a volunteer shift?
A: We encourage all of volunteers to be prompt and volunteers arriving more than ten minutes after the beginning of the shift have missed the mandatory orientation and are not able to participate.
Q: Can I just show up at the facility to volunteer?
Q: Who can volunteer?
A:Anyone 6 years old and over can volunteer at our Repacks in Elmira. Anyone 15 and older can volunteer at our Mobile Food Pantries. Youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult in order to volunteer.
Q: Are there any restrictions to volunteers?
Due to the nature of volunteer work, some individuals with restrictions may not be able to volunteer (i.e. unable to physically move small objects or follow instruction). Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator to set up a one-on-one consultation to discuss if volunteering with the Food Bank is a good fit.
Q: What should I wear for my volunteer shift?
CLOSED-TOE SHOES – Wear sensible, closed-toe shoes (no sandals) when working in the warehouse. Sneakers or boots are recommended. No one wearing open-toe shoes will be permitted in the warehouse.
Q: How do I sign up another individual to volunteer?
Q: How do I sign up a group to volunteer?
A: Please email the Volunteer Coordinator.
Q: When are the volunteer shifts??
A:Monday – Thursday 9 am – 12 pm & 1 pm – 3 pm, Friday 9 am – 12 pm.
To book for groups, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator.
Q: What is the BackPack Program?
Q: What is the Mobile Food Pantry?
For more information:
Contact the Volunteer Coordinator
607.796.6061 x4043