Volunteer at the Food Depository
For more information about our food repack sessions, please consult our volunteer calendar, which provides specific information about each of the sessions available. View our Volunteer FAQs if you have further questions.
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Individual Opportunities
FOOD REPACK
Opportunities include repacking bulk products to individual/family sizes, assembling boxes with assorted food, checking expiration dates and labeling and gleaning products. The Food Depository can accommodate individual volunteers and large groups during repack sessions. We offer sessions Tuesdays through Saturdays. Please refer to our calendar and choose an available date to book a session. All available sessions will be posted four months in advance.
Participants must be at least 14 years old to volunteer at the Food Depository during regular sessions. The Food Depository hosts Kids Days once a month on a Saturday afternoon. Kids ages 5 to 13 may volunteer with an adult during Kids Days only. Groups of 20 or fewer are welcome with one adult for each child. Please call 773-247-3663 or e-mail volunteerservices@gcfd.org for details and availability.
Note: Anyone volunteering to complete court-ordered community service must fill out an application and return it to the Volunteer Services department before setting up a volunteer session. This document may be mailed, faxed, or returned electronically.
REGULAR VOLUNTEER NEEDS
Loading dock: The Food Depository ships more than 150,000 pounds of food every day. Volunteers are needed weekday morning hours to help load trucks on the shipping dock. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old and able to lift up to 50 pounds. Sign up here for additional details and availability.
OCCASIONAL VOLUNTEER NEEDS
Produce delivery or food drive pickup helpers: Support the distribution and pickup of food at the Food Depository! Every weekday morning, volunteer teams of two drive Food Depository vehicles to deliver fresh produce to member agencies or pick up food drive food at local organizations. Volunteers should be at least 16 years old with a valid drivers license, and able to lift at least 40 pounds. Contact Food Operations at 773-843-2600 or by e-mail for details and availability.
Administrative: Volunteers are needed to assist with administrative tasks such as filing and data entry. Occasionally administrative workers are needed for large mailings. Contact Volunteer Services at 773-843-6801 or by e-mail for details and availability.
Order checking: The Food Depository serves 650 member agencies in Cook County. These pantries, soup kitchens and shelters have representatives that come to our facility to pick up products for their site. Volunteers are needed to check orders to ensure that our member agencies are receiving the items they have ordered to meet their clients’ needs. Volunteers are needed on a long-term basis and must be available to work once per week. Contact Volunteer Services at 773-843-5422 or by e-mail for details and availability.
Events: Volunteers are needed to help at special events throughout the year at off-site locations. Typical tasks include hosting a table with Food Depository information and answering questions, collecting food donations, fundraising, speaking to groups and registering attendees. Contact Volunteer Services at 773-843-5422 or by e-mail if you would like to be notified about upcoming events.
Food shows: Volunteers are needed to help collect food donations from vendors after the close of food industry trade shows. These collections are among our largest one-day food acquisitions. Food show season begins in March and continues through November. Most "food rescues" take place at McCormick Place, and volunteers must be 18 years old. Some shows depend on the support of hundreds of volunteers to complete these efforts successfully. Contact Volunteer Services at 773-843-7285 or by email if you would like to be notified about upcoming food shows.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Volunteering at one of the Food Depository’s member pantries, soup kitchens or shelters offers an opportunity to directly serve individuals in our community. From helping prepare and serve meals to delivering food to tutoring, our agencies can use your time and talents. Please refer to a listing of our agency volunteer needs and contact an agency directly for details and availability.
For more information about any of these opportunities, please view our volunteer FAQ or contact the Volunteer Services team at 773-247-FOOD or volunteerservices@gcfd.org.
Group Volunteer Opportunities
FOOD REPACK
Opportunities include repacking bulk products to individual/family sizes, assembling boxes with assorted food, checking expiration dates, labeling products, gleaning products, etc. The Food Depository can accommodate individual volunteers and large groups during repack sessions. We offer sessions Tuesdays through Saturdays. Please refer to our calendar and choose an available date to book a session. All available sessions will be posted four months in advance.
Participants must be at least 14 years old to volunteer at the Food Depository during regular sessions. The Food Depository hosts Kids Days once a month on a Saturday afternoon. Kids ages 5 to 13 may volunteer with an adult during Kids Days only. Groups of 20 or fewer are welcome with one adult for each child. Please call 773-247-3663 or e-mail volunteerservices@gcfd.org for details and availability.
Note: High school and youth groups with more than five students must contact Volunteer Services to schedule a session. Please do not use our interactive schedule to book your session. Please contact Volunteer Services at 773-247-3663 or volunteerservices@gcfd.org
OCCASIONAL VOLUNTEER NEEDS
Events: Volunteers are needed to help at special events throughout the year at off-site locations. Typical tasks include hosting a table with Food Depository information and answering questions, collecting food donations, fundraising, speaking to groups and registering attendees. Contact Volunteer Services at 773-843-5422 or by e-mail if you would like to be notified about upcoming events.
Food shows: Volunteers are needed to help collect food donations from vendors after the close of food industry trade shows. These collections are among our largest one-day food acquisitions. Food show season begins in March and continues through November. Most "food rescues" take place at McCormick Place, and volunteers must be 18 years old. Some shows depend on the support of hundreds of volunteers to complete these efforts successfully. Contact Volunteer Services at 773-843-7285 or by email if you would like to be notified about upcoming food shows.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Volunteering at one of the Food Depository’s member pantries, soup kitchens or shelters offers an opportunity to directly serve individuals in our community. From helping prepare and serve meals to delivering food to tutoring, our agencies can use your time and talents. Please refer to a listing of our agency volunteer needs and contact an agency directly for details and availability.
