Opportunities From: Feeding the Foothills

We will be sorting through donated food items from Starbucks and re-packaging them into plastic bags.

Requirements:

Please make sure to wear comfortable, sturdy, fully-enclosed closed-toe shoes. We cannot allow anyone into the building without closed-toe shoes.  Masks and face coverings are optional as of May 15, 2022. Volunteers are still more than welcome to wear them if they prefer and extra masks are available at our warehouse. 

Please only sign up for dates and times that you are available.  

Physical demands:*

Standing for 1 Lifting bags of Starbucks items that weigh up to 5 lbs. Reaching between waist-high table and bin of food products

*As with all our shifts, these are not firm requirements, merely a heads up regarding the general activity involved in the shift. If you are interested in this activity but are unsure if it's the right fit, we're happy to figure out accommodations or adjustments that will allow you to participate safely and comfortably!

Shifts close ten minutes after the scheduled start time. In order to provide adequate instruction and safety information to all volunteers, we cannot admit folks who arrive later than ten minutes past the scheduled start time.  

Parking:

Mapping apps (Google Maps, Waze, etc) like to bring folks to our rear door, which is not a public entrance. Once you turn off either Industrial or Washington, please stay on the north side of the building. Park in the area highlighted below, then cautiously cross our loading dock (follow the crosswalk) and wait at the three green picnic tables (or in the lobby if the weather is bad) for a staff person to bring your group inside. 

Check-In volunteers at our mobile distribution will meet on-site  1 HOUR before start time and assist our staff with set-up, coordinating and preparing check-in material, handling out flyers and providing any updates to the neighbors during the distribution, and keeping an open line of communication between the check-in station and food bank staff.

In order to ensure we have enough folks for our check-in roles, please give us at least 48 hours notice if you need to miss a scheduled lead shift!

Watch this video for an overview of our mobile food distributions!

Scroll down for Cameron Park-specific info. (Below the video.)

Help us feed the Cameron Park community! Join us for our monthly food distribution from 9:30am-12pm on the 1st Thursday of each month. We set up a drive-thru with several stations to put food into the trunks of folks in need. It's a great opportunity to see where all our sorted and packed goods from the warehouse end up, and connect with the folks we serve. 

Click the "respond" button above to sign up for a shift!

Watch this video for an overview of our mobile food distributions!

Scroll down for Roseville-specific info. (Below the video.)

Help us feed the Roseville community! Join us for this monthly food distribution from 7-10am on the 1st Friday of each month. We set up a drive-thru with several stations to put food into the trunks of folks in need. It's a great opportunity to see where all our sorted and packed goods from the warehouse end up, and connect with the folks we serve. 

Meet at the site at 7am.

Volunteers will be assigned stations to help with, including checking in clients, handing out non-perishables, produce, baked goods, and assisting with traffic flow and direction. Everyone who volunteers at this distribution will at some point be asked to assist with traffic flow, but we keep track so that hopefully no one has to do it more than once or twice per year (unless they want to!)

Check-In volunteers at our mobile distribution will meet on-site  1 HOUR before start time and assist our staff with set-up, coordinating and preparing check-in material, handling out flyers and providing any updates to the neighbors during the distribution, and keeping an open line of communication between the check-in station and food bank staff.

In order to ensure we have enough folks for our check-in roles, please give us at least 48 hours notice if you need to miss a scheduled lead shift!

Please only sign up for a sorting shift if you have attended a Sorting Training. We offer sorting training shifts several times per month, and require folks to train before attending regular sorting sessions. 

Sorting Superstars help us move donated food from our warehouse out into communities in need. When grocery stores donate food, it usually arrives by the truckload in varying states of disorganization. During a sorting shift, volunteers go through the donations, organize the individual items according to our sorting system, check for quality and safety, and discard any spoiled or unsafe items. Sorting the donations is essential so that we can pack the food up efficiently and make it available to our agency partners for distribution. 

Physical demands:* Standing and walking for 1-2 hours Lifting banana boxes full of product (up to 25lbs) from floor level to 4ft high Reaching into bins at floor level to place items or retrieve them

*As with all our shifts, these are not firm requirements, merely a heads up regarding the general activity involved in the shift. If you are interested in this activity but unsure if it's the right fit, we're happy to figure out accommodations or adjustments that will allow you to participate safely and comfortably!

Shifts close ten minutes after the scheduled start time. In order to provide adequate instruction and safety information to all volunteers, we cannot admit folks who arrive later than ten minutes past the scheduled start time.  

                      

We receive large quantities of donated non-perishable goods from a network of grocery purveyors. Our Salvage Saver volunteers take these items that have been previously sorted by other volunteers, and package them into banana boxes. Then, the boxes are made available to our partner agencies, who take them back to the communities they serve and distribute them to folks in need. We call these boxes "salvage boxes" because they are full of salvaged products. 

During a salvage shift, volunteers set up an assembly line with bins of sorted products along a conveyor belt. They fill banana boxes with a variety of salvaged items as they move down the line of bins, and the full boxes are eventually stacked, labeled, and made available for our agency partners. 

Physical demands:* Standing and walking for 1-2 hours Lifting banana boxes full of product (up to 25lbs) from floor level to 4ft high Reaching into bins at floor level to place items or retrieve them

*As with all our shifts, these are not firm requirements, merely a heads up regarding the general activity involved in the shift. If you are interested in this activity but unsure if it's the right fit, we're happy to figure out accommodations or adjustments that will allow you to participate safely and comfortably!

Shifts close ten minutes after the scheduled start time. In order to provide adequate instruction and safety information to all volunteers, we cannot admit folks who arrive later than ten minutes past the scheduled start time.  

Produce Party shifts are always a good time! 

During these shifts, we pack loose produce into family sized portions and get them ready to distribute at our various mobile distribution sites. Fresh produce is a core component of our mobile distribution menu, and we wouldn't be able to offer fresh fruits and vegetables without the help of volunteers to pack and prepare them.  

Requirements:

We require that everyone wear closed-toe shoes at all times at all volunteer opportunities. As of May 15, 2022, masks and face coverings are optional at our warehouse. Volunteers are welcome to wear them if they prefer and extras are available at the warehouse. The warehouse varies in temperature according to the weather, so please dress accordingly. We encourage you to wear layers as some of the shifts are physical in nature and you may warm up as the shift goes on. 

Please only sign up for dates and times that you are available. If you need to cancel a shift, we require at least 24 hours notice so we have sufficient time to find someone to cover for your absence. 

Physical demands:*

Standing for 1-2 hours Lifting bags of produce up to 5lbs, and possibly items up to 20lbs Reaching between waist-high conveyor belt or table and pallet or bin of food products

*As with all our shifts, these are not firm requirements, merely a heads up regarding the general activity involved in the shift. If you are interested in this activity but are unsure if it's the right fit, we're happy to figure out accommodations or adjustments that will allow you to participate safely and comfortably!

Shifts close ten minutes after the scheduled start time. In order to provide adequate instruction and safety information to all volunteers, we cannot admit folks who arrive later than ten minutes past the scheduled start time.  

Arguably the most fun shift of the week - Every Tuesday, a group of 4-5 students from the Western Placer Unified School District's Special Education contingent come to the warehouse as part of a job training program. They are recent high school graduates seeking work experience, and the program offers them the chance to explore many different work environments. They also get more familiar with the employee/supervisor and co-worker dynamics and experience them in a real work setting. We encourage anyone interested in getting to know the students and having a blast while packing either produce or nonperishable products to check this shift out! 

Physical demands:* Standing and walking for 1-2 hours Lifting banana boxes full of product (up to 25lbs) from floor level to 4ft high Reaching into bins at floor level to place items or retrieve them

*As with all our shifts, these are not firm requirements, merely a heads up regarding the general activity involved in the shift. If you are interested in this activity but unsure if it's the right fit, we're happy to figure out accommodations or adjustments that will allow you to participate safely and comfortably!

Shifts close ten minutes after the scheduled start time. In order to provide adequate instruction and safety information to all volunteers, we cannot admit folks who arrive later than ten minutes past the scheduled start time.  

Check-In volunteers at our Sheridan distribution will meet on-site at 8:45am and assist our staff with set-up, coordinating and preparing check-in material, handling out flyers and providing any updates to the neighbors during the distribution, and keeping an open line of communication between the check-in station and food bank staff.

In order to ensure we have enough folks for our check-in roles, please give us at least 48 hours notice if you need to miss a scheduled lead shift!

Watch this video for an overview of our mobile food distributions!

Scroll down for Sheridan-specific info. (Below the video.)

Help us feed the Sheridan community! Join us for our monthly food distribution from 9am-12pm on the 2nd Friday of each month. We set up a drive-thru with several stations to put food into the trunks of folks in need. It's a great opportunity to see where all our sorted and packed goods from the warehouse end up, and connect with the folks we serve. 

Meet at the site at 9am, please park on the street if possible as the parking lot is small and we take up most of the space with our set-up. Reach out to us for carpools if needed!

Check-In volunteers at our mobile distribution will meet on-site  1 HOUR before start time and assist our staff with set-up, coordinating and preparing check-in material, handling out flyers and providing any updates to the neighbors during the distribution, and keeping an open line of communication between the check-in station and food bank staff.

In order to ensure we have enough folks for our check-in roles, please give us at least 48 hours notice if you need to miss a scheduled lead shift!

Watch this video for an overview of our mobile food distributions!

Scroll down for Placerville-specific info. (Below the video.)

Help us feed the Placerville community! Join us for our monthly food distribution from 10am-1pm on the 2nd Thursday of each month. We set up a drive-thru with several stations to put food into the trunks of folks in need. It's a great opportunity to see where all our sorted and packed goods from the warehouse end up, and connect with the folks we serve. 

Click the "respond" button above to sign up for a shift!

Thanks for your interest in volunteering at Feeding the Foothills! 

We require everyone to attend orientation before attending any warehouse shifts or mobile distributions. 

This shift will take place at our warehouse, and will include a tour of our facility, an overview of our organization and programs, information about our volunteer opportunities, scheduling, and next steps to volunteer.

Please make sure to wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes. We cannot allow anyone into the building without closed-toe shoes.  Masks and face coverings are optional as of May 15, 2022. Volunteers are still more than welcome to wear them if they prefer and extra masks are available at our warehouse. 

We recommend wearing comfortable clothes that you don't mind getting a bit dirty (just in case). Our warehouse is only partially temperature-controlled, so dress according to the weather forecast for the day. 

This shift will likely involve standing and occasional lifting for extended periods of time, but we are able and eager to accommodate any needs that we can. Let us know ahead of time if you think this might pose a problem for you so we can make sure there is a role suited to your needs available. 

At the end of the shift, staff will take a quick photo of you that will be attached to your volunteer profile in our database. We won't post it anywhere without you permission, it's just to help our staff learn and remember your name. 

Shifts close ten minutes after the scheduled start time. If you arrive more than ten minutes after the scheduled start time, we will kindly ask you to reschedule for a different orientation date so that you are able to attend the full orientation. 

Directions and Parking:

Please park in the lot on your left as you enter our complex, next to the Feeding the Foothills sign. Once parked, please walk along the crosswalk, across our loading dock, and wait for your shift leader at the green picnic tables or in the lobby.

Map apps like Google Maps like to bring folks to our rear door instead of the volunteer entrance, so if it tries to take you past the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store into a lot between two buildings, turn around and make a left at the triangular island where Industrial Ave splits. Our parking lot will be the first lot on your left. See map below. Lines in pink are driving directions, yellow is where to go once you've parked. 

Check-In volunteers at our mobile distribution will meet on-site  1 HOUR before start time and assist our staff with set-up, coordinating and preparing check-in material, handling out flyers and providing any updates to the neighbors during the distribution, and keeping an open line of communication between the check-in station and food bank staff.

In order to ensure we have enough folks for our check-in roles, please give us at least 48 hours notice if you need to miss a scheduled lead shift!

Watch this video for an overview of our mobile food distributions!

Scroll down for Pollock Pines-specific info. (Below the video.)

Help us feed the Pollock Pines community! Join us for our monthly food distribution from 10am-1pm on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. We set up a drive-thru with several stations to put food into the trunks of folks in need. It's a great opportunity to see where all our sorted and packed goods from the warehouse end up, and connect with the folks we serve. 

Click the "respond" button above to sign up for a shift!

This shift is a little bit of everything! This shift is a bit of a "wild card" as you will likely be asked to help with a few different tasks during the shift depending on what is needed. There may be some last-minute produce packing, meal kit packing, salvage packing, sorting, or maybe even a few other random projects. 

We'll let you know what's on the agenda once you arrive, so make sure that if you sign up for this shift, you're open to doing a few different things!

Physical demands:* Standing and walking for 1-2 hours Lifting banana boxes full of product (up to 25lbs) from floor level to 4ft high Reaching into bins at floor level to place items or retrieve them

*As with all our shifts, these are not firm requirements, merely a heads up regarding the general activity involved in the shift. If you are interested in this activity but unsure if it's the right fit, we're happy to figure out accommodations or adjustments that will allow you to participate safely and comfortably!

Shifts close ten minutes after the scheduled start time. In order to provide adequate instruction and safety information to all volunteers, we cannot admit folks who arrive later than ten minutes past the scheduled start time, and we ask that you only sign up if you are able to stay for the full duration of the shift. 

Help us deliver food to the residents of the Rocklin Estates Mobile Home Community! 

We meet on Grove Street, just outside the entrance to Rocklin Estates and divide into teams, and drop food off at the doors of folks who have signed up in advance. Additional info and training will be provided onsite. 

This opportunity requires transportation to get to Rocklin Estates, walking, lifting and carrying up to 15-20lbs, and interacting with residents during the deliveries. 

This shift is a little bit of everything! On Thursday afternoons, we often have several projects or tasks to finish up as we head into the weekend. This shift is a bit of a "wild card" as you will likely be asked to help with a few different tasks during the shift, depending on what is needed. There may be some last-minute produce packing, sorting and bagging Starbucks product for Friday distributions, meal kit packing, salvage packing, sorting, or maybe even a few other random projects. 

We'll let you know what's on the agenda once you arrive, so make sure that if you sign up for this shift, you're open to doing a few different things!

Physical demands:* Standing and walking for 1-2 hours Lifting banana boxes full of product (up to 25lbs) from floor level to 4ft high Reaching into bins at floor level to place items or retrieve them

*As with all our shifts, these are not firm requirements, merely a heads up regarding the general activity involved in the shift. If you are interested in this activity but unsure if it's the right fit, we're happy to figure out accommodations or adjustments that will allow you to participate safely and comfortably!

Shifts close ten minutes after the scheduled start time. In order to provide adequate instruction and safety information to all volunteers, we cannot admit folks who arrive later than ten minutes past the scheduled start time, and we ask that you only sign up if you are able to stay for the full duration of the shift. 

Watch this video for an overview of our mobile food distributions!

Scroll down for Lincoln-specific info. (Below the video.)

Help us feed the Lincoln community! Join us for this monthly food distribution from 7-10 on the 3rd Friday of each month. We set up a drive-thru with several stations to put food into the trunks of folks in need. It's a great opportunity to see where all our sorted and packed goods from the warehouse end up, and connect with the folks we serve. 

Meet at the site at 7am, we set up in the parking lot near the pool. 

Check-In volunteers at our mobile distribution will meet on-site  1 HOUR before start time and assist our staff with set-up, coordinating and preparing check-in material, handling out flyers and providing any updates to the neighbors during the distribution, and keeping an open line of communication between the check-in station and food bank staff.

In order to ensure we have enough folks for our check-in roles, please give us at least 48 hours notice if you need to miss a scheduled lead shift!

Check-In volunteers at our Foresthill distribution will meet on-site at 8:45am and assist our staff with set-up, coordinating and preparing check-in material, handling out flyers and providing any updates to the neighbors during the distribution, and keeping an open line of communication between the check-in station and food bank staff.

In order to ensure we have enough folks for our check-in roles, please give us at least 48 hours notice if you need to miss a scheduled lead shift!

Watch this video for an overview of our mobile food distributions!

Scroll down for Foresthill-specific info. (Below the video.)

Help us feed the Foresthill community! Join us for our monthly food distribution from 9am-12pm on the last Thursday of each month. We set up a drive-thru with several stations to put food into the trunks of folks in need. It's a great opportunity to see where all our sorted and packed goods from the warehouse end up, and connect with the folks we serve. 

Meet at the site at 9am, reach out to us for carpools if needed!

Thanks for your interest in helping us serve the Rocklin Community!

Please click the "respond" button to sign up for one of the distributions if you would like to participate. We cannot accommodate walk-in volunteers, so all volunteers must sign up for the shift in order to attend. If the shift is full, you are welcome to sign up for a spot on the waitlist, we will reach out via email if we need your help! 

  Watch this video for an overview of our mobile food distributions!

Scroll down for Rocklin-specific info. (Below the video.)

Help us feed the Rocklin community! Join us for our monthly food distribution from 7-10am on the last Friday of each month. We set up a drive-thru with several stations to put food into the trunks of folks in need. It's a great opportunity to see where all our sorted and packed goods from the warehouse end up, and connect with the folks we serve. 

 

Meet at the site at 7am to set up and please dress for the weather!

 

We provide water, snacks, sunscreen, shade canopies, and all necessary distribution supplies. 

Check-In volunteers at our mobile distribution will meet on-site  1 HOUR before start time and assist our staff with set-up, coordinating and preparing check-in material, handling out flyers and providing any updates to the neighbors during the distribution, and keeping an open line of communication between the check-in station and food bank staff.

In order to ensure we have enough folks for our check-in roles, please give us at least 48 hours notice if you need to miss a scheduled lead shift!

Check-In volunteers at our Colfax distribution will meet on-site at 8:45am and assist our staff with set-up, coordinating and preparing check-in material, handling out flyers and providing any updates to the neighbors during the distribution, and keeping an open line of communication between the check-in station and food bank staff.

In order to ensure we have enough folks for our check-in roles, please give us at least 48 hours notice if you need to miss a scheduled lead shift!

Watch this video for an overview of our mobile food distributions!

Scroll down for Colfax-specific info. (Below the video.)

Help us feed the Colfax community! Join us for our monthly food distribution from 9am-12pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. We set up a drive-thru with several stations to put food into the trunks of folks in need. It's a great opportunity to see where all our sorted and packed goods from the warehouse end up, and connect with the folks we serve. 

Meet in the community center parking lot at 9am, look for our truck and van. 

Please sign up for this opportunity if you are interested in training to volunteer as part of our outreach team!

Our outreach volunteers represent the food bank at off-site events, community gatherings, schools, clubs, and other events and venues. They are trained to answer questions about many facets of Feeding the Foothills and our various programs, including but not limited to: volunteering, CalFresh, Pantry To Go/Mobile Distributions, and our network of partner agencies.

During training, you will learn more about the food bank to give you a solid foundation of knowledge to work from when talking to the public. We will also teach you more in-depth about the CalFresh program (California's food stamp program) and how to help someone sign up to receive benefits. 

Typically, volunteers will accompany a staff person to events that they are available for, and support staff by answering questions, distributing flyers and other info, and generally serving as the face of the food bank. 

We LOVE when bilingual folks are interested in this opportunity, but it is definitely not a requirement. We have the greatest need for folks who speak Spanish, Russian or Ukrainian, Tagalog, or Mandarin. 

Signing up for this opportunity doesn't commit you to anything. We will send you additional info and a link to register for training after you sign up for this opportunity. It just lets us know that you're interested and want a bit more info!