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Q: How do I sign up to volunteer?
Q: What sort of activities would I be doing?
Q: What is the length of my volunteer visit?
Q. Is there a dress code?
Q. How do I get there?
Q. Is there parking?
Q. What are your guidelines for groups and individuals?
Q: Can children participate?
Q: How any adults are needed to accompany youth groups?
Q. What if I need to cancel?
Q. What if more people want to come with my group than signed up?
Q: Is the FoodBank able to accomodate the special needs of a handicapped or disabled person as a volunteer?
Q: Does the FoodBank have a meeting room a group can use before or after our volunteer visit?
Q: Are there places to eat nearby the FoodBank?
Q. Are there any other volunteer opportunities for the FoodBank that are not in the warehouse?
Q. What are your warehouse regulations?
Q. Can a FoodBank representative come to speak to our group before our volunteer date?
Q: How do I sign up to volunteer?
A: Contact our Volunteer Services Dept. at 908-355-3663, ext. 221 or e-mail us at thendricks@njfoodbank.org. Tell us the date and time you want to come, number of volunteers in your group, cell number and fax number. We’ll fax a confirmation back to you. If you are in South New Jersey, please check the guidelines for our Southern Branch.
Q: What sort of activities would I be doing?
A. Warehouse volunteers assist with a variety of tasks including: sort & re-pack food items; stock the shelves with food; help in the Thrift Shop; help assemble fundraising mailings; sort and package new clothes for children in the Kids’ Division; stock the shelves with school supplies in the Tools 4 Schools Resource Center. Volunteers are assigned to specific areas.
Q: What is the length of my volunteer visit?
A. Our volunteers stay 2 hours per visit.
Q. Is there a dress code?
A. The FoodBank dress code is casual and comfortable. No suggestive or controversial clothing. This includes no midriffs or cleavage. Comfortable, safe footwear is absolutely necessary. NO open-toed shoes, heels, sandals or flip-flops are permitted in the warehouse. Sneakers, shoes or work boots are preferred. Dress warmly in the winter: layers are suggested, such as jeans, t-shirt, sweatshirt, etc. and lightly in the summer. Shorts and t-shirts are fine. Please leave all valuables such as purses, bags, backpacks, I-Pods, jewelry, etc. locked in your truck or at home. Do not wear good jewelry, necklaces or long earrings as they pose a safety concern in the warehouse.
The Community FoodBank is not be responsible for missing personal belongings.
Q. How do I get there?
A. For driving directions, click here. For public transportation, log onto www.njtransit.com.
Q. Is there parking?
A. There is parking alongside the FoodBank building. Groups are urged to car-pool or come via their organization's bus or van.
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Q: What are your guidelines for groups and individuals?
A: Following are a few simple rules we ask you to follow to make the most of your time with us.
GROUPS:
Please sign up at least 3 to 5 days in advance
Group contact/leader should confirm the number in the group, arrival and departure times with the FoodBank volunteer coordinator 2 or 3 days prior to the scheduled day. Please let us know if your group or some members are new and would like a tour of the FoodBank. The Volunteer Coordinator will allow an additional half hour of time for the tour and/or video overview.
For groups that are FoodBank regulars, please call the Coordinator if you cannot volunteer or need to change your schedule.
INDIVIDUALS:
Group supervisors must work with group members at their assigned work areas at all times. The FoodBank staff cannot act as chaperones or supervisors. Group leaders are advised to print out and distribute these guidelines to your group before their FoodBank visit.
Q. Can children participate?
A. The minimum age is 12, with adult supervision. The FoodBank warehouse is 280,000 sq. feet and there is always warehouse equipment in operation. We are concerned about safety for everyone!
Q. How many adults are needed to accompany youth groups?
A. Volunteer groups with teenagers ages 12 through 16 must be accompanied by one adult for every 10 teens. Adults must stay with their groups in their assigned work areas.
Q. What if I need to cancel?
A. Please notify the Volunteer Services Coordinator by calling 908-355-3663, ext. 221 or e-mail thendricks@njfoodbank.org.
Q. What if more people want to come with my group than signed up?
A. Please contact our Volunteer Services Coordinator as soon as possible to see if there is still room available. We may already be full for that shift. Some or all of you may need to re-schedule.
Q. Is the FoodBank able to accommodate the special needs of a handicapped or disabled person as a volunteer?
A. We occasionally have projects that our special needs volunteers can help with. Please call the Volunteer Services Coordinator to discuss.
Q. Does the FoodBank have a meeting room we can use before or after our volunteer visit?
A. Yes, we have several rooms available. The room must be reserved before your visit with the Volunteer Services Coordinator.
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Q. Are there places to eat nearby the FoodBank?
A. There are several restaurants and fast food places in the area.
Volunteer groups may also bring their breakfast or lunch to eat together by reserving one of the meeting rooms before your visit.
Our on-site Food Service Training Academy can also cater the event and provides a varied menu. Please look on our website under: Programs, then Download the Catering Menu. Please follow the instructions there for ordering meals and pricing.
Q. Are there any other volunteer opportunities for the FoodBank that are not in the warehouse?
A. Yes! We have many off-site volunteer opportunities including: collecting food and monetary donations at food shows, food drives, concerts, and sporting events; and our annual November Turkey Drive. Please call 908-355-3663, ext. 235 or e-mail lsodano@njfoodbank.org.
Volunteers are always needed for our annual Check-Out Hunger campaign. This fun and exciting opportunity involves setting up and monitoring donation placards in NJ supermarkets every fall and winter.
Please click onto “Events” on our website and tab onto “Check-Out Hunger” for more information. Or call our Check-Out Hunger Coordinator at 908-355-3663, ext. 244.
You can “adopt” the FoodBank as your company’s charity of choice; coordinating a food drive, a holiday Turkey Drive, or new children’s clothing drive for our Kids’ Division. Please click onto these tabs on our website for contact information.
Q. What are your warehouse regulations/Safety rules?
A. No open-toed shoes may be worn in the warehouse. NO eating, drinking, running or smoking in the warehouse. Food and grocery items in the warehouse are intended for needy people and member charities only. Volunteers must not remove any products from the premises. Volunteers must not touch, handle or operate any warehouse equipment, i.e., hand truck, forklift or golf cart. All volunteers should remain in their assigned work area. Please report to the group leader or FoodBank staff if you need to leave your work area. No more than two youth volunteers should leave the work area at the same time. Cleaning up of the work area is part of your volunteer visit.
Q. Can a FoodBank representative come to speak to our group before our volunteer visit?
A. Yes! Please call and arrange a date and time with the Volunteer Coordinator at 908-355-3663, ext. 235 or e-mail lsodano@njfoodbank.org.
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