When our Marion-Polk Food Share President, Ron Hays, gives tours of our facility, he often asks, “Who owns the Food Share?” After a few shrugs and guesses, he points his finger towards his tour group and answers, “You do.” He might also ask, “Who runs the Food Share?” and the answer would be pretty close to the same: “Volunteers.”
We rely on the time, talents, and resources of our volunteers to keep our warehouse running and our administrative offices humming. In addition, we often call upon community volunteers for special events.
Help make a difference
We have a variety of volunteer opportunities including handling food, clerical service, driving, gardening and many other imaginative ways to assist us in ending hunger. After reviewing our website, please take a moment to complete our on-line application. Click here. A volunteer manager will contact you to discuss your interests and schedule a time for you to visit the Food Share. (Please note volunteers under age 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.)
Volunteers helping move food through the warehouse will receive training in food handling safety before beginning work. Other volunteers will meet with specific staff members to work on various projects the Food Share needs. All volunteers are encouraged to schedule a tour through the warehouse and learn of the variety of ways Marion Polk Food Share is acting to end hunger.
If you would like to schedule an activity for your group, we can generally host a maximum of 18-20 volunteers at one time, subject to project type and availability. Larger groups can be accommodated with special planning. If we can’t accommodate you at your desired time, we may also suggest projects for your group that can be done off-site, such as running a food drive or planning a fundraising activity. We are happy to work with you to provide the resources you need to run a successful group project for Marion-Polk Food Share.
For any questions regarding becoming a volunteer at Marion Polk Food Share, please contact Janet Spingath at 503-581-3855 ext 311 or
jspingath@marionpolkfoodshare.org .We welcome volunteers who need community service hours for school credit. We also have a limited number of opportunities for court-mandated volunteers to participate.
Thank you for considering giving your gift of time and energy to Marion Polk Food Share. We look forward to meeting you!
For volunteer opportunities, please click here.