The Community Kitchen Free Farmers Market

Project Description: At Food Bank’s Community Kitchen, we serve 100,000+ free meals per month through our many services and programs, helping to ensure no New Yorker goes hungry.  

The Free Farmers Market follows a client choice–style pantry model, where clients can select groceries that are the best fit for their families, focusing on fresh produce. Join us for the day to help us distribute food to hundreds of community members! 
 

Tasks may include: 

• Helping with set-up and break-down of the distribution. 
• Engaging with community members while providing a client-choice distribution, where community members are able to select their preferred items. 
• Restocking products to be distributed. 
• Managing the line and conducting intake. 
• Breaking down boxes and keeping the sidewalk clear. 

Things to consider: 

• We ask that volunteers are comfortable lifting up to 30 pounds repeatedly.  
• This project will take place outdoors, rain or shine, so please dress accordingly. 
• ​Please bring work gloves if you have them.
• If you are bilingual, please let us know onsite!  
• ​We ask that you are flexible as the positions may vary or change based on the demand of distribution for the day.  
• Limited onsite storage is available for personal belongings. Please travel light and leave valuables at home. Please bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the shift. 
• Our shift times account for arrival, check-in, and a brief orientation, so there is no need to come early! If you choose to arrive early, we ask that you come no more than 10 minutes prior to the start of your shift. 
• All volunteers must agree to our Volunteer Waiver and Photo Release Waiver in order to participate. 
• Please only register for this opportunity if you are sure you can attend for the full shift duration. If anything changes with your availability, please cancel your registration on the Volunteer Portal at least 24 hours in advance. 
• See here for our Volunteer Guidelines.    
• All Volunteers are welcome to access Food Bank For New York City’s services, which you can find outlined on our website here. In order to ensure we have proper volunteer support, we ask that volunteers wishing to access our services do so before or after their scheduled volunteer time. Please note, some of Food Bank For New York City’s services may have eligibility requirements and therefore not all volunteers may be eligible to receive all services. 

Dress Code:  

• Volunteers are expected to present a neat appearance and dress according to the requirements of the volunteer shift. 
• We ask that volunteers do not wear revealing attire such as muscle shirts, crop tops, “short shorts” or see-through clothing. 
• Sturdy, closed-toe, closed-heel shoes are required for safety. Ballet flats, loafers, sandals, slide shoes, flip flops, Crocs, and high-heels are not allowed.   
• Outdoor activity will be required, so please wear weather-appropriate attire. 
• During colder months, please be sure to dress in warm layers. 
• Our staff reserves the right to turn away or reassign volunteers not dressed appropriately for their shift. 

Age Requirements:  

• Volunteers must be at least 14 years old to participate.   
• All volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a chaperone aged 21 or older.   
• All volunteers under the age of 18 must have our Volunteer Waiver and Photo Release Waiver complete by a parent/legal guardian in advance of their volunteer shift.   
• All volunteers under the age of 18 should contact volunteer@foodbanknyc.org at least 3 business days in advance of their first shift to confirm they have met our chaperone and waiver requirements.  
• Please note that our capacity to accommodate youth volunteers is subject to availability.