Volunteer

Volunteers' primary work will include a variety of essential tasks. The volunteer project on the day of your volunteer shift will vary depending on our food distribution needs. Sorting and bagging produce for the food center and distributions.

Assembling food packages for the Senior Food Program, Emergency Food Assistance Program, and the Food 4 Kids Backpack program.

Inspecting, sorting, packing, and labeling food donations.

Offsite distributions assist with getting food and other resources directly into the hands of our community members. Check out our 30+ monthly distribution sites across San Diego County HERE.

On occasion, we will have special event volunteer shifts available. Stay tuned!

Yes. All volunteer visits MUST be scheduled in advance. Due to health and safety regulations, there are no exceptions to this rule. Please note that signing up is a 2-step process: account creation and then individual shift registration. After you schedule your volunteer visit online, you will receive a confirmation email which will include specific information about your shift, directions to the San Diego Food Bank warehouse or project site, and a list of our policies and procedures.

You may volunteer once or on a regular basis, though you are expected to stay the entire duration of the shift!

No special training is required to volunteer. Simply register for your volunteer visit and arrive on your scheduled day. You’ll receive a brief introduction when you arrive, and then you can start helping right away.

Registering is easy. Follow the link to our registration page. If you are a returning user, sign in using your existing username and password. If you are a first-time volunteer, you will be asked to create an account and provide us with your contact information. Once you are a registered user, you can sign up for any open volunteer shifts.

Yes! Volunteering at the San Diego Food Bank provides team-building opportunities. We welcome corporate teams, schools, service organizations, alumni associations, families, fraternities and sororities, and faith-based organizations. If you have a group of fewer than five people, each volunteer must register as an individual. As long as you sign up for the same date and shift time, you will still be able to work together. For a group of five or more, please fill out the Group Volunteer Form.

We encourage middle school and high school groups to volunteer. However, due to health and safety regulations, elementary school groups cannot volunteer, but they are welcome to visit our warehouse tour to learn about hunger issues and see firsthand how the Food Bank serves the community. To schedule an elementary school group tour, please CLICK HERE to fill out our Warehouse Tour Request Form.

Minimum age to volunteer is 11. Children 11-15 must be accompanied by an 18+ adult also registered for the shift. 16+ may volunteer independently. Groups with children aged 11-15 must have 1 adult for every 4 children.

Our organization only accepts non-violent misdemeanors. Automatic denials include but are not limited to violence, sexual offenses, and theft. The Food Bank will verify the information while your application is being considered. Failure to provide any of the required information will result in immediate disqualification of your volunteer application.

San Diego Food Bank wants to ensure that our volunteering opportunities are inclusive and accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. As a dedicated team, we understand the value and importance of accommodating individuals with diverse needs and abilities.

The Food Bank team is fully committed to making every effort to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities who wish to volunteer with us. We believe that everyone has unique talents and contributions to offer, and it is our responsibility to create an environment where all volunteers can thrive and succeed.

Our goal is to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their abilities, feel welcomed, respected, and supported in their volunteer roles. We will work closely with volunteers to identify and address any specific needs they may have, ensuring that they have the necessary resources and support to perform their tasks effectively.

By embracing inclusivity and providing necessary accommodations, we not only enhance the volunteering experience for individuals with disabilities but also enrich our community as a whole. Together, we can create a more compassionate and supportive environment where everyone has the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

All volunteers are required to bring comfortable clothing and a positive attitude. We do ask that you please keep personal items to a minimum (i.e. purses, jewelry, etc.), as the Food Bank does not have lockers for volunteers to use and cannot be held responsible for lost, stolen or damaged items.

Food Bank recommends casual and comfortable clothing. Close-toed shoes, tennis shoes or boots ARE REQUIRED. No heels, open-toed shoes, or sandals are permitted in the warehouse. The warehouse is not temperature-controlled, so volunteers are encouraged to wear seasonal clothing. In addition, please be mindful of the level of appropriateness of your dress, as we have a wide range age groups that visit our warehouse. Please do not wear or bring anything that may be considered offensive.

Our main warehouse facility is in San Diego at 9850 Distribution Avenue, San Diego, CA 92121 (between the 805 and the 15 freeways off Miramar Road). Our North County location is in the city of Vista at 2260 Oak Ridge Way, Vista, CA 92081. Special events and off-site distribution locations vary throughout San Diego County each month!

Please contact our Volunteer Engagement team, volunteer@sandiegofoodbank.org.

Allow at least 3 business days for our staff to reply to your message.