If you are looking for an opportunity to contribute to Yolo Food Bank’s impact on the community, there are so many ways that you can volunteer with us. Last year there were over 31,465 hours of volunteer service across all aspects of the organization – a contribution valued at $1.1 million based on California nonprofit averages. Whether you enjoy working inside or outside, meeting neighbors, organizing, driving the back roads of Yolo County, or even directing traffic, there is a role for you!
HARVEST EVENTS
Out in the fields and orchards of Yolo County, volunteers work side by side in nature while harvesting fresh fruits and vegetables that end up on the tables of their neighbors.
Join a team of volunteers at a local farm and help to harvest produce that supplements our county-wide programs. If you love to be outdoors and work with plants, this is a great way to get a little dirty, meet new people, and get a workout in while helping your community.
Thanks to our network of local farmers, we are able to provide fresher, more diverse produce throughout the year. These events happen seasonally and at different times of the day – a great fit for those with flexible schedules.
“We all work together well and now when I come it is like meeting a bunch of old friends. It’s rewarding to see these resources are going right to where they are needed.”– Sabine, volunteer for 2 years
STUDENT FARMERS MARKETS
Outside their school, you meet with students and teach them about healthy eating habits and help provide fresh produce to over 1,000 homes a month while educating and connecting with the community.
Come and be a volunteer at some of the schools throughout Yolo County, providing school-aged children with fresh fruits and veggies and nutrition information. If you love working with students this is a great option to share your enthusiasm for healthy food options and help youth learn how food banks can support them and their families.
These volunteer opportunities happen monthly, making planning ahead to volunteer easier. When you want to lend a hand but are worried about some of the more strenuous options of packing and loading food, the Student Farmers Markets requires less physical exertion, so they may just be right for you.
PRIVATE COMMUNITY FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS
Collect your supplies for the day and jump behind the wheel. You will be bringing groceries to community members and dropping the food off at their doors. Make a difference in your community, enjoy time out in the county and make an impact while enjoying a quieter environment
Not looking for a high-impact workout, but want to distribute food? Enjoy getting some quiet time in your car alone or taking road trips with a friend? Get your own delivery route every month and bring boxes of groceries to neighbors in need who are not able to attend public distributions for various reasons.
If you are looking for a way to get involved but aren’t as comfortable in large group settings or you are looking for a quieter option for volunteering, then our Private Community Food Distributions might be a great fit for you. Bring a friend to help if you’d like and enjoy some time together or listen to an audiobook and soak in the scenery while providing a much-needed service.
“I am grateful that Yolo Food Bank can offer these options for families that need it and I feel like I am making all new friends with the people I meet here.”– Sue, volunteer for 3 years
WAREHOUSE OPPORTUNITIES
Whether it’s sorting through produce, packing dry goods with others, or organizing the store for our partners, there are plenty of ways to be part of the important work of preparing the food to get to the people who need it.
In our Quality Control Room, volunteers help us sort, weigh, and bag fresh produce and dried goods. This is a good opportunity to be involved with the food that goes out to the community, in a way that is physically low-impact and among a small group of volunteers while indoors.
In our Packing Area, volunteers help us pre-pack fresh produce and dried goods into boxes and bags for food distribution through our various programs. There is a moderate physical aspect to this role, with some heavy lifting of the packed boxes and bags. This is an excellent opportunity for team-building, groups, and families to volunteer together!
Other food and household supplies are organized and shelved in our Sutter Health Partner Agency Store, where our wide network of Partner Agencies can access them. Volunteers for the store can expect to work on detail-oriented projects that focus on organization and shelving goods inside the store itself.
Overall, shifts at the warehouse are consistent so it is easy to find a way to fit them into your schedule and it’s a great way to bring a group for team-building at Yolo Food Bank! So, if you like focused, collaborative work and find it rewarding to organize, all in the comfort of the indoors, then the warehouse volunteer opportunities are for you.
PUBLIC COMMUNITY FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS
Connect with your neighbors in the community and be part of the on-site sorting, packing, and distribution at a public event. Help check people in or hand out food in a fast-paced environment via walk-up lines or into the cars via the drive-through area. Rain or shine you will see the impact your help makes on the faces of the people you meet.
Public distributions are a great collaborative effort between the team of volunteers and the community they support. If you love activities with some physical exercise then this is a way to feel like you worked hard and made a difference. It’s a great way to meet new people from across the county as you work outdoors. And perhaps you want to organize a family day out or an activity with friends!
A consistent schedule makes it easy to fit these volunteer opportunities in your routine, but that doesn’t mean what you will be doing is the same every time. Public distributions encourage adaptability and teamwork from the volunteers and are a great way to connect with those around you. These distributions also need support for traffic flow. In this less physically demanding role, you help ensure the drive-through portion of these events runs smoothly.
“I didn’t expect how inspirational it would be to be a part of the food distribution and packing at the warehouse. It means a lot to me to be connected to the community in Yolo County and to give back however I can.”
– Trevor, volunteer for 2 years
Volunteering with Yolo Food Bank is a rewarding way to support your community, and with so many different opportunities available, there’s something for everyone. From hands-on activities to behind-the-scenes support, each role makes a meaningful impact. We encourage you to explore the variety of options. Or, you can try more than one! You might discover new skills, meet incredible people, and find joy in making a difference. Together, we can nourish Yolo County! 
