Volunteer Overview

The Healdsburg Food Pantry Welcomes volunteers of all ages and diverse religious and ethnic groups.  Individuals with varied ability levels and economic resources can provide useful services.  Volunteers are the lifeblood of the organization whether they commit to a weekly schedule or prefer to occasionally step-in as needed or choose to work on specific occasional projects.  Whatever you choose to do, you will make a difference.  You are guaranteed personal satisfaction from meaningful use of your time that contributes to your community. 

What Services do Volunteers Perform? 

Volunteers are needed for the following: 

• Stocking shelves and organizing donations at the Food Pantry
• Picking up food at Healdsburg Grocery stores, Bakeries, or other donation points and delivering them to the Pantry
• Participation in the annual Food Pantry fund raiser.  A variety of services are needed, among them setting up tables and chairs, decorating, soliciting raffle items, publicity and other committee tasks
• Preparation and Distribution of Christmas Food Baskets
• Librarian/HIstorian to organize press pieces, pictures, brochures etc.
• Public Speaker/ Outreach Educator to inform and educate about the Pantry
• Occasional office and Computer work
• Occasional help with fundraisers or events organized by other groups, individuals, or businesses that result in funds or food for the Food Pantry
• Occasional repair work or help with cleaning and repairing the Pantry building

Volunteer Qualifications

• Good judgment
• Willingness to follow instructions and work cooperatively as a team member
• Ability to perform and follow through on unsupervised duties on an individual basis
• Commitment to quality and excellence

Scheduling Options

• Stocking and organization of food:  Monday-Friday  (9 AM to 11 AM)
• Pickup and delivery of food:  Monday-Friday (9 AM)
• Distribution of food:  Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (3PM to 4:30 PM)
• Special Projects year round   

 Jacob Carvalho has been honored with a $500. scholarship for volunteer work with the Food Pantry!

Jacob's Story

A few years ago, I read in the paper that the food pantry needed food. I had participated in food drives before through my Pathfinder Club so I decided to ask my neighbors for food for the food pantry. I made up a letter saying what I was planning to do and then I stapled the letter to some old plastic bags. My friend and I passed out 500 bags (I got carried away). The next day I asked some of my friends at church if they would help me pick up the food that people would be leaving on their doorsteps for the food pantry. A bunch of people from the church came and helped me pick up and sort the food into the various types. Later on that day, when all the food was collected, the total came out to 1500 items of food! We delivered it to the food pantry and they were so thrilled.

I enjoyed the food drive so much that I decided to do a second food drive that summer. It was equally as successful and provided another 1000 food items for the food pantry. I have done 3 food drives that I planned and organized and I have participated in many more. Organizing food drives is my one of my favorite community service activities and I am looking forward to doing another food drive this summer before I go off to college.