Volunteers are vital in our mission of fighting food-insecurity in our communities. By volunteering even for a few hours, you are part of our effort to ensure that food is distributed to every community member in need. Our programs continue to grow each year, reaching more individuals within our 14-county service area struggling with food insecurity and we could not address these needs without the help of our volunteers. Our clients’ experiences depend on the quality of work done in the Volunteer Department. Likewise, we want our volunteers to experience a quality and meaningful experience volunteering with the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. Whether you provide administrative support, sort food in our warehouse, or weed in our Teaching Garden, volunteers are vital and deeply appreciated and help us ensure no neighbor experiences hunger.
Before committing to a volunteer opportunity at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, we encourage you to read through our Volunteer Handbook. This booklet contains details of types of volunteer work you might experience at the Food Bank, our rules and regulations for volunteers, dress code, and other critical details of volunteer work at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia:
COVID-19
The Food Bank is committed to keeping our staff, clients, and volunteers safe during this pandemic. We require face coverings to be worn covering your nose and mouth in our warehouses and during Food Bank of Northeast Georgia hosted events at all times. Gloves, face masks, and hand sanitizer will be available for all staff and volunteers for all Food Bank events and on-site. While we accept volunteers of all ages, at this time we ask that seniors (65+), youth under the age of 17, or anyone with a chronic health condition refrain from volunteering. If you are sick please cancel your shift – any volunteer that is showing signs of illness will be asked to leave and return when well.
DRESS CODE
In consideration of safety guidelines and regulations, all volunteers are required to wear closed-toed shoes. No shoes with a hollow or thin heel or wheeled-heel are allowed in the warehouse or at Food Bank-hosted events. Footwear that is not permitted includes sandals, Crocs, flip-flops, Chacos, heels, high-heeled boots, wedges, and Heelys. This is an important requirement and no exceptions can be made due to safety concerns. Volunteers that do not meet this requirement will be required to change into appropriate footwear before going back to work. Comfortable and durable clothing is also recommended. For those doing outdoor activities, please wear clothing best suited for the weather.
CHILDREN 17 AND UNDER
For safety purposes, we require all people under the age of 18 to be accompanied by an adult. For groups, minors 10 to 15 years old must have one adult chaperone for every 5 minors. Minors 16-17 years old must have one adult chaperone for every seven minors.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
All first-time volunteers will need to create an account when attempting to sign for volunteer opportunities. Please review the date and location for each event before signing up. Volunteer opportunity locations may vary; please review the date, time, and location for volunteer opportunities prior to signing up.
We cannot currently provide Community Service hours for volunteer work.
Please click here to view and sign up for current available volunteer opportunities.
FOOD DRIVES AND DONATIONS
The donations we receive from food drives are essential for maintaining the variety needed for those we serve. The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia accepts all donations from our donors. Upon arrival at the Food Bank, volunteers can announce their donation and will be greeted by a Volunteer Department staff member who will weigh and accept their donations. For those looking to collect a record, donate as part of a food drive, or to report to an organization or job, weight receipts can be recorded and provided upon request.
For those looking to collect volunteer service hours, hosting a food drive is a simple and effective way of gaining volunteer hours for you and/or your organization members. To collect volunteer hours for donating, please notify a volunteer coordinator and share contact information to ensure your donations are properly recorded and that volunteer hours are properly dispersed.
SEASONAL FOOD DRIVES
Fulfilling seasonal donation requests provides product and items most needed for current and future programs of the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. Seasonal food drives might include non-food or specific food items that are rarely donated but are critical for the programs they are applied to.
As of this current month, our current seasonal drives include:
Nourishing our Neighbors in Need Food Drive:
What We Need:
- Easily accessible food for those without access to a kitchen (jerky, tuna packets, pop-top cans, protein bars, and other protein-dense foods),
- Clothing items such as gloves, socks, and hats
- Small hygiene items like travel-size deodorant, lotion, and sunscreen
Virtual Food Drive:
- Donate here or contact us at (706) 713-9319 to create a team and receive your own personalized link
Create Raffle Baskets/Packages for upcoming Virtual Fundraisers/Events:
- A creative project for groups of all sizes. To get involved, contact us at: (706) 713-9319
GROUPS LOOKING TO VOLUNTEER
(EXLCUDING MOBILE PANTRY DISTRIBUTIONS) For organizations looking to volunteer at the Food Bank, we ask that one individual per 12 collective volunteers represent the group as a Team Leader and make an appointment the week before for training. Team Leaders will assist the Volunteer Department staff in training and assisting volunteers for the proper procedures for that day’s activities and to ensure proper guidelines and procedures are followed. Training for Team Leaders will typically last up to an hour and will include: safety procedures, bathroom, and first aid kit locations, an overview of procedures for the volunteer activity, and general management guidelines. To schedule an appointment, please email us at:
HOW TO BECOME AN INTERN
Interning with the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia provides excellent experience and opportunities to serve members of our local community struggling with food insecurity. An internship provides first-hand knowledge and experience working alongside professionals specializing in nutrition, leadership, social work, horticulture, and warehouse distribution within our facility. Expectations for interns vary depending on circumstances and the department applied for. However, these positions often involve assisting a department and typically require some skills related to Microsoft applications, data entry, and time management.
All internships with the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia are unpaid and will typically take place on-site at our Food Bank warehouses. Interns must be available to work 2-3 days a week during our open hours for a minimum of 10 hours a week for 3 or more months.
To apply for an internship with the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia in Athens, please email a cover letter, a resumé, and your availability to:
For those looking for an opportunity to intern in the Mountain Distribution center in Rabun county, please email a cover letter, a resumé, and your availability to:
For those with questions and concerns or requesting an internship, please contact a volunteer coordinator at the Food Bank by sending an email to Volunteers@FoodBankNEGA.org or calling our Volunteer Department at (706) 354-8191, extension 113.
LOCATION AND HOURS OF OPERATION
Our hours of operation for both facilities are Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. but we may have scheduled volunteer programs outside our normal hours. The Athens Branch and main warehouse of the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia is located at 861 Newton Bridge Road, Athens, GA. The Mountain Distribution Center in Rabun County is located at 5312 Highway 441 South, Tiger, GA.
