Volunteer

What is the minimum age for volunteering?
Volunteers must be 15 years of age or older to participate in our programs.

What kind of time commitment is required?
We ask for a commitment to a fixed weekly slot for a minimum of 3 months. If you have prior commitments during that period that may cause you to miss some sessions, that is fine, as long as you let us know in advance.

What roles are available?
Regular volunteers support core operations, including food distribution, client services, sorting food donations, driving, warehouse management and countless other roles.

I submitted an application and haven’t heard back, why?
Our volunteer team is normally quite full. If you don’t hear from us, it means that there is currently no availability within the team, but we will keep your application on file and will reach out if a space that matches your availability becomes available. You do not need to contact us to inquire about the status of your application.

Are there shifts available on evenings and weekends?
Shifts are extremely limited for evenings and weekends. The shift times we are recruiting for are regularly updated on the Volunteer Application Form. If evening and weekend options are not listed, it means we are not currently recruiting for these timeslots.

Are there any restrictions on which groups can volunteer at the Food Bank?
Our only restriction is age – we cannot accept any volunteers under the age of 15. Organizations, businesses, other non-profits, school groups, and community or religious groups are all welcome!

When would my group be volunteering?
Group volunteering sessions generally fall somewhere between 10am and 3pm. Because of how busy our distribution days are, we usually ask our group volunteers to come in on days when we don’t give out food, normally on Tuesdays and Fridays. However, in late November and throughout December we also ask small groups (around 3-5 people) to help us hand out hot chocolate to our clients on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays when we give out food.

My group is unable to attend during office/school hours. Can we come in and volunteer on evenings and weekends?
Due to our office hours and resource considerations, we are unfortunately unable to offer slots on evenings and weekends. If this is the only availability your group has, we recommend checking the RCRG website to see if there are any opportunities that better suit your group’s schedule.

How many volunteers can I bring?
We generally try and keep our volunteer groups to no more than 7 volunteers, and it is difficult for us to accommodate groups of more than 10. However, if your group is larger than this, you can still submit an application. On rare occasions, there may be the option to split the group up across multiple days, or in different slots on the same day.

How long are the volunteering sessions?
Our volunteering sessions are usually around 2-2.5 hours, in order to ensure that everyone in the group has enough to do.

What kind of activities will the group be doing?
Volunteer groups usually help us with activities our regular volunteer team does not get the chance to do. Activities vary from group to group and depend on our needs on a given day. Tasks may include packing hampers, repacking larger food items, and cleaning or reorganizing the warehouse. Most groups will typically sort through donations or give out food directly to clients.

What are the next steps after I submit a group volunteer application?
Once an application is submitted, we will reach out if we are able to schedule a session with the group. If you don’t hear from us, it means that there is currently no availability for your group to come in, but we will keep your group’s application on file should anything come up in the future.

Our group has already volunteered and would like to come in again or start volunteering on a regular basis. Would that be possible?
We are very appreciative of groups who enjoy their volunteering experience and would like to come back. Unfortunately, due to high demand, we are unable to offer any groups a regular volunteering slot. We can sometimes offer a group another volunteering slot at a later date, but this is not guaranteed and would generally be limited to around twice a year.

Are there other ways in which I can support the Richmond Food Bank aside from volunteering?
Yes! Monetary donations from either individuals or groups are always appreciated. Organizing a food drive within your organization or the wider community is also extremely helpful in ensuring that we have enough high-quality food to give to our clients. You can register for a donation drive online, and we can offer you support and guidance throughout the process. If you have any questions regarding monetary or food donations, you can email us at info@rfbs.org.

How do I sign up?
You can sign up directly through our Self-Booking Portal.

Is there a limit to how many shifts I can book?
There is no limit or long-term commitment; you are welcome to book the hours you need to fulfill your specific requirements.

What will I be doing during my sessions?
These sessions focus on tasks such as queue coordination (managing client entry numbers and flow) and cleaning tasks such as washing bins or breaking down cardboard. You may be asked to work outside, or complete physical tasks, so please bear this in mind when signing up.

Will I be able to complete all my hours?
Unfortunately, due to limited slots we cannot guarantee you can complete all your hours. However, you can book as many sessions as are available on the Self-Booking Portal.

How will I record my hours?
We will ask you to sign in and out for each session so that we have a record of how many hours you have completed. We will use this when signing any verification forms or confirming hours, so make sure you don’t forget to sign in and out!

Why are there only limited sessions each week?
Sessions are limited to ensure we can provide a productive environment without disrupting our regular volunteer operations.

I need to cancel a shift. What should I do?
Please notify us at least 24 hours in advance where possible. You can reschedule or cancel online through your confirmation email, by phone at 604-271-5609, or by emailing us at info@rfbs.org.

Is there an interview or selection process for this program?
It depends on the application numbers, but this program involves a selection process and is not open for direct booking.

What kind of sessions will I be doing during the accreditation?
The accreditation involves a wide range of sessions including distributing food, client intake, new client registrations, sorting through donations and repacking. Accreditation participants will pick up several new skills including leadership skills, working in a fast-paced environment, customer service skills and working as part of a team.

When will the sessions take place?
Participants will complete their designated hours through a mixture of sessions during school holiday breaks, Pro-D days, weekday evenings and weekends (typically 1.5–4 hour shifts).

Will I be able to fit the sessions around my school schedule and other extra-curriculars?
The program is designed as a structured curriculum for highly motivated students, but sessions are typically scheduled to accommodate the school year. No sessions will take place during school hours.

Will I be provided with any letters of recommendation or references?
Yes, students who successfully complete the accreditation receive a certificate and a formal letter of recommendation.

What happens if I am unable to complete all 30 hours?
If you cannot complete all 30 hours you may not be eligible to receive a certificate of completion for the accreditation. However, we will verify the number of hours that you have completed if require confirmation for your school, and we can still produce a letter of recommendation if you have completed sufficient hours for us to get a sense of your qualities and skills.