Volunteer!

Volunteers are the heart of our operations and we view volunteers as our partners in the fight against hunger. Just one morning or afternoon can make a difference to a family or individual in need. Every year hundreds of volunteers donate a total of over 20,000 hours of their time at Food for Others. When you donate your time to Food for Others, you become a partner in the fight against hunger.

Our volunteers represent a cross-section of our Northern Virginia community: workplace team-building groups; adult service organizations; university students, faculty and staff; retired individuals; individuals with community service requirements; individuals with mental and physical challenges; religious organizations; families and school groups ranging from grade school to high school.

When you are ready to volunteer, please call 703-207-9173 or speak with our volunteer coordinator who can discuss with you the mission of Food for Others, your interests and our projects in depth so that we can make the most of your interests and skills. Volunteers who are bilingual in English and Spanish are especially needed. Our goal is to provide a meaningful volunteer experience in a positive environment.

Office Team

We rely on the generosity of our volunteers to assist with daily office duties. You can help run the reception desk, organize events, make phone calls to donors, or assist in sending out mailings. A proficiency in Microsoft Windows software, including Word and Excel, are helpful in performing some tasks such as typing letters, entering spreadsheet data, updating databases or maintaining the web site. These volunteer opportunities are available during our normal operating hours, Monday through Friday, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm.

Warehouse Team

Help the warehouse staff record incoming and outgoing food, pack emergency food and USDA boxes, sort and shelve products, clean the warehouse and keep things running smoothly. These volunteer opportunities are available during our normal operating hours, Monday through Friday, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm. For more information, please contact our volunteer coordinator at 703-207-9173.

Some Warehouse Guidelines:

• You must be 16 or older to volunteer at Food for Others without adult supervision. Children ages 12-15 must be adequately supervised by parents or guardians.
• No open toe shoes in the warehouse. No sandals!  No high heels!
• Appropriate dress is required at all times. Please dress in clothes that you would use to work in the yard or do chores. No miniskirts.
• Please be aware that much of the work involves bending and lifting. Please let us know if you have physical limitations so that we can arrange an appropriate volunteer assignment.
• Our warehouse is larger than 10,000 square feet and temperatures can vary from one part of the warehouse to another. In addition, temperatures vary from season to season. It is hot in summer and cold in winter. Please keep this in mind and dress in layers as appropriate.
• If you have special interests or special skills you would like to use, please let us know.

Food Rescue Team

Volunteers help pick up overstocked goods and other donations from area grocers, rescuing food which would otherwise go to waste. This activity normally takes about two hours and must be done in the morning hours – between 8:00 am and noon. You will pack and load food into your own vehicle and deliver it to Food for Others during our operating hours of Monday - Friday, 9:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Team members need to be able to lift 30 to 40 pounds.

Food Distribution Team

Each evening, groups of volunteers distribute food at some of our fifteen sites in Fairfax and Arlington Counties. Food is picked up at our warehouse, loaded into your vehicle and delivered and handed out directly to those in need between the hours of 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. For a list of sites, please click here.

PLEASE NOTE: A year's commitment is required for this volunteer opportunity.

Glean Fresh Produce From Local Farmers' Markets

Food for Others is looking for volunteers to “glean” fresh produce from the farmers' markets in Fairfax County and Falls Church.  The markets are in several different locations and on different days of the week so one may fit your volunteering schedule.  They generally run from the first Saturday in May through December.  The peak gleaning months are July through September.  Volunteers need to arrive at the market at about 1/2 hour before closing time in order to pass out rubber bins (supplied by Food for Others) to the various vendors that have produce to donate.  The produce is then loaded up and brought back to the Food for Others warehouse.

This fresh produce is extremely valuable to our families in need in Northern Virginia.  Every year hundreds of pounds of healthy local produce is saved from the landfill, gathered, and distributed.    We are looking for volunteers to take on this valuable opportunity this year.  This activity is ideal for a church or civic group that would like an ongoing opportunity to provide food to low income families in their neighborhood, or for a family that would like to give back to their community.

Please visit our website at www.foodforothers.org to learn more about our organization.  For further information on this volunteer activity please call Nikki or April at 703-207-9173. Or email nclifford@foodforothers.org.

Special Events/Fundraising Team

You don't have to make a long commitment to become a volunteer! Join our special events/fundraising team! Food for Others has many events that run throughout the year and we need your help to make them successful. For more information, please see our Special Events page.

Run Your Own Food Drive

Run your own food drive, whether in your neighborhood, school, apartment building, or office! We provide support and encouragement; you provide the food. For more information and a planning kit, click here, or call 703-207-9173.

Harvest for the Hungry

Help us harvest what USDA grows! Pick produce for those in need in our area. We are looking for volunteers interested in working at the USDA Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville, MD (right off of Beltway Exit 25-A) for a few hours. Harvesting activities will begin in mid July. To receive a schedule, please click here. 

Please note, all participants must download and sign a waiver form.