The Gift of Time
"Our volunteers are the heart and soul of our community's compassion. With every hour given, they nourish not just bodies, but the spirit of kindness that unites us all. Their dedication lights the way, illuminating paths of hope and solidarity for those in need. Together, we are not just filling stomachs; we are feeding futures and fostering a brighter tomorrow. To our volunteers: your generosity knows no bounds, and your impact is immeasurable. Thank you for being the difference-makers, the silent heroes, part of our extended family, and the embodiment of action.” Marjorie Bencz, Executive Director
Individual Volunteers
2,585
Volunteer Hours in 2023
141,233
Food hampers built monthly by volunteers
35,000+
Groups Volunteering
635
Edmonton's Food Bank is committed to providing a safe working environment. Measures include practicing hand hygiene, reviewing our OH&S training video, and wearing disposable gloves at all times on the warehouse floor.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Volunteering at Edmonton's Food Bank
It all starts with you ....
Putting on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Stay safe. Keep well.
Volunteer Positions
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Driver
Description
Food hampers need to be delivered to 66 community food depots throughout the city where clients receive their hampers. Our drivers also pick up donated food from food industry partners, corporate donors, and the public. Drivers also support community food drives by dropping off supplies. On-site training and orientation is provided.
Qualifications
Minimum age: 21 yearsClass 5 Drivers license and Clean Drivers Abstract (Must provide drivers abstract and receive approval from our insurance provider prior to driving Food Bank vehicles)Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and enjoy working with the publicCapable of working in a team environmentGood time management skillsReliable, trustworthy, patient, punctual, and empatheticComfortable working in a warehouse settingAble to lift a minimum of 15 kg (33 lbs)Able to operate a manual pallet jack (On site training provided)Good physical health as lifting, bending, loading, and unloading will be involved -
Agency Row
Description
Edmonton's Food Bank supports over 350 different agencies, churches, and food depots in Edmonton. Volunteers support agencies while they are in the warehouse accessing food resources. This support includes assisting with loading, helping to track inbound and outbound food weights, and keeping the area clean.
Qualifications
Minimum age: 18 yearsExcellent communication and interpersonal skills and enjoys working with the publicCapable of working in a team environmentReliable, trustworthy, patient, punctual, and empatheticAble to operate a manual pallet jack (On site training provided)Good physical health as lifting and bending may be required -
Sorter
Description
In 2023, 5.5 million kilograms of food was collected by Edmonton's Food Bank. Sorters are responsible for going through all non-perishable donations and checking the condition of the packaging and the best before dates. Once the food is checked, it is organized and stored appropriately to be brought to the hamper line or agency row. On-site training and orientation is provided.
Qualifications
Minimum age: 14 yearsMature and able to work with minimal supervisionEnjoy working as a team, with our volunteers and staff, in a busy environmentAttention to detailReliable, trustworthy, patient, punctual, and empatheticComfortable working in a warehouse settingGood physical health as lifting and bending may be required -
Repackager
Description
Some food items are purchased or donated in bulk and require repackaging into individual or family size portions. Volunteers help with repackaging food product, which is then placed on our hamper line for distribution. This is done with strict adherence to the quality control guidelines of Edmonton’s Food Bank and Alberta Health Services. Training and orientation will be provided.
Qualifications
Enjoy routine tasks with minimal supervisionEnjoy working as a team, with our volunteers and staff, in a busy environmentReliable, trustworthy, patient, punctual, and empatheticComfortable working in a warehouse setting -
Generic Hamper Builder
Description
Generic hamper makers prepare the starter kits, which are the base of each food hamper leaving the Food Bank. Volunteers refer to a list of non-perishable food items to build the boxes. Once completed, they stack and move the pallet to the hamper line to complete the food orders. On-site training and orientation is provided.
Qualifications
Good communication and interpersonal skillsEnjoy working in a team setting with other volunteers and staffMust be mature and able to work with minimal supervisionReliable, trustworthy, patient, punctual, and empatheticComfortable working in a warehouse settingGood physical health as lifting and bending may be required -
Hamper Line (Food Hamper Maker)
Description
Hamper Makers complete the food hampers by adding additional perishable and non-perishable food to the “Starter Kit”. At this time, special attention is paid to dietary requests as well requests for special items such as toiletries or dish soap based on availability. The volume of hampers must be recorded and hampers must be accurately labelled for delivery to the client and/or food depot. On-site training and orientation is provided.
Qualifications
Minimum age: 14 yearsGood communication and interpersonal skills and enjoy working with the publicCapable of working in a team environmentMature and able to work with minimal supervisionAttention to detailGood time management skillsReliable, trustworthy, patient, punctual, and empatheticComfortable working in a warehouse settingGood physical health as lifting a minimum of 15 kg (33 lbs) and bending may be required -
Lead Volunteer - Warehouse
Description
Our amazing volunteers contributed more than 141,000 hours to our work in 2023. Edmonton’s Food Bank relies heavily on volunteers to assist with warehouse duties such as sorting food donations, repackaging food, building food hampers, and organizing and cleaning the warehouse. The lead volunteer is an important role that assists with the training and engagement of new volunteers in the warehouse acting as an extension of our staff team. Lead volunteers will receive training and direction for proper warehouse procedures and guidelines from a staff coordinator.
Qualifications
Minimum age: 16 yearsMust have a minimum of 30 volunteer hours and 2 months of volunteer experience in the Edmonton Food Bank warehouseAble to work 3 hour shiftsUnderstands the processes and complexities of Edmonton’s Food BankEnjoy working as a team, with our volunteers and staff, in a busy environmentAble to work with minimal supervisionReliable, trustworthy, patient, punctual, and empatheticGood physical health as lifting a minimum of 15 kg (33 lbs) and bending may be required -
Client Services
Description
The responsibility of a Client Services volunteer is to assist clients with their request for a food hamper by conducting intake interviews by telephone or in person. Information and referrals to community resources such as Collective Kitchens, Beyond Food Programming, Food Co-ops, etc. are also provided. Volunteers also maintain accurate records of client information and hamper orders on the computer database. On-site training and orientation is provided.
Qualifications
Minimum age: 18 yearsNon-judgemental with good listening skillsAbility to work as a teamAbility to work at a computer and do detailed administrative workReliable, trustworthy, patient, punctual, and empatheticNo lifting required. Work is typically seated at a computer. -
Special Events
Description
Special event volunteers are ambassadors for Edmonton’s Food Bank, representing the organization to the public, communicating our needs, and encouraging donations to support our work. They help set up resources at food drives, information booths, and a variety of community events. Depending on the event, volunteers collect non-perishable food and monetary donations, sell tickets for raffles or 50/50s, engage with the public, and share information about the work of Edmonton’s Food Bank. In some cases, volunteers also assist loading our trucks with food donations. There is also the opportunity to make appearances as Fill-Up, our mascot. While there are some events during daytime hours Monday to Friday, most of our special events are in the evening and on weekends.
Qualifications
Outgoing, with good communication and interpersonal skills, and is comfortable in social settings or in large groups of peopleComfortable collecting food and/or monetary donationsWillingness to become familiar with the Food Bank and its operations, the clients we serve, and the services we provideEnjoys working in a team environment at various locationsPunctual and reliableTrustworthy and empatheticGood physical health as lifting and bending may be required
Join our volunteer team!
Research confirms what we already know! Volunteering contributes to good mental & physical health, happiness, increased self-confidence, and a sense of purpose.
