Volunteer at a Member Agency
Many of our member agencies rely on volunteers to meet the needs of their guests. Check out some of the opportunities available and contact them directly to get involved.
Volunteers needed on Mondays and Wednesdays for the following roles:
- 8:00 – 10:00 AM for pantry set-up
- 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM for food distribution
- 12:00 – 2:00 PM for pantry clean-up
CONTACT: Juan David Duque, Food Pantry Coordinator, at jduque@progresolatino.org or #401-728-5920, ext. 126.
RICAN in Charlestown currently has the following volunteer opportunities available at their thrift shop and food pantry located at 805 Alton Carolina Road:
- Volunteers needed at the thrift shop Monday through Saturday anytime between 10am-5pm.
- Duties include: Receiving and organizing incoming clothing and home goods donations, light cleaning, organizing items on display floor, cash register duties and sorting seasonal items to be stored or brought out to display floor.
- Volunteers needed in the food pantry Monday through Thursday between 9am-2pm and on Fridays from 9am-3:15pm.
- Duties include: Receiving and organizing incoming food and rescued items, prep work for food distribution, assisting with food distribution, organize and sorting shopping shelves, light cleaning. Volunteers should be comfortable with heavy lifting.
- Seasonal volunteers needed to help water, weed and maintain the raised bed garden and flower boxes.
CONTACT: Jennifer, 401-364-9412 ext. 3, admin@rican.necoxmail.com
- Volunteers needed on Monday mornings around 11:00 a.m. to assist with retail pick up at BJ’s Wholesale in Johnston. Volunteers will be loading items to be delivered to the food pantry.
- Volunteers needed on Monday afternoons at the food pantry at 30 Meeting Street in Cumberland from approximately 3:30-6:30 pm during weekly operating hours. Duties include loading groceries for pantry guests, restocking shelves, and lifting bags, boxes and other food items from a truck and stocking the pantry area.
- Must be 18 years of age or older, able to lift up to 30lbs and preferably vaccinated.
CONTACT: Bill Pugsley, (401) 767-6410
- Various ongoing volunteer opportunities.
CONTACT: Rebecca Richard, Volunteer Manager rrichard@MLKCCenter.org, (401) 846-4828 x103
Federal Hill House in Providence has the below volunteer opportunity available at their pantry at 35 Swiss Street:
- Volunteers are needed Tuesday – Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for various tasks including greeting guests, helping them select food items throughout the pantry and restocking shelves as needed. The agency is happy to be flexible with shifts to suit your needs and focus on the positive qualities you bring to the table. Shifts can vary in length based on your availability as well.
- Spanish-speaking volunteers needed
CONTACT: Michele Matott, 401-421- 1095, volunteer@federalhillhouse.org
St. Raymond’s in Providence currently has the following volunteer opportunities:
- Volunteers needed on Saturday mornings from approximately 8:30-11:30 a.m. The food pantry is open to guests from 9-11 a.m.
- Volunteers needed on Thursday mornings from approximately 9:00-11:00 a.m. to assist with unloading weekly order from the Food Bank
- Duties include selecting and bagging groceries for clients and restocking shelves, and lifting bags, boxes and other food items from a truck and stocking the pantry area.
- Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and able to lift 10-25lbs
- This agency prefers that volunteers be vaccinated. Masks are required at all times in the pantry.
- This agency does not accommodate court-ordered community service hours.
CONTACT: Jeb Butler, (401) 323-8305
St. Charles SVDP Ministry in Providence has two volunteer opportunities currently available at their location at 178 Dexter Street:
- Volunteers are needed Tuesdays from 10am-12pm to assist with interviewing and registering guests during weekly pantry hours. Basic computer skills required and Spanish-speaking volunteers are preferred.
- Volunteers are needed Thursdays from 12pm-6pm to assist with meal/food prep for weekly meal service for approximately 80 guests. Volunteers must have experience as a line cook and be comfortable preparing large quantities of food in an industrial kitchen setting.
CONTACT: Joan Zompa, 401-273-1108
EBCAP in Tiverton and Newport currently has the following volunteer opportunities:
- Wednesdays from 9am-4pm at the food pantry at 1048 Stafford Road in Tiverton.
- Wednesdays from 9am-12pm at the food pantry at 19 Broadway in Newport.
- Thursdays from 9am-12pm at the food pantry at 19 Broadway in Newport.
- Volunteers will be greeting pantry guests, packing bags, stocking shelves and unloading deliveries from the Food Bank.
- Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and able to lift up to 30lbs.
CONTACT: Erin Fogarty, 401-632-6348, efogarty@ebcap.org
- Various hours and support opportunities available.
CONTACT: volunteer@jonnycake.org or jonnycake.org/volunteer
Connecting for Children & Families currently has the following volunteer opportunities available at their Front Street Family Center located at 719 Front Street, Suite 107:
- Volunteers needed on Wednesday mornings between 9am-12pm to help unload the weekly delivery from the Food Bank and transport items to the freezer or shelving area.
- Volunteers MUST be comfortable with heavy lifting, boxed items coming off the truck can weigh up to 40-45 lbs.
- Volunteers needed on Thursdays from 12:30-4:30pm and on Fridays from 9am-4:30pm (during pantry hours) to assist guests picking up food items.
CONTACT: Denise Shavers, 401-895-1792, dshavers@ccfcenter.org
Volunteer at a Community Farm (Seasonal)
Every spring and summer, our community farms accept volunteers to help prepare the land, plant and harvest. No experience is necessary and all ages are welcome. It’s a great activity for families, schools, businesses and civic groups! To volunteer at a community farm, contact them directly using the information listed below:
142 Abbot Run Valley Road, Cumberland
Email the Volunteer Coordinator
Visit the Franklin Farm Website
Hope’s Harvest RI mobilizes volunteers to harvest surplus food from farms in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts and distributes it to hunger relief agencies in like the Food Bank. They are now a part of Farm Fresh RI.
No agricultural experience is necessary, and all training and equipment is provided.
To learn more and register to volunteer from June to December, click here and sign up for their mailing list to receive updates.
106 Birch Swamp Road (Farm at end of Robbins Lane), Warren
Join McCoy Community Farm on Facebook
1351 Centreville Road, Warwick
Coordinator is Kendra Anderson
Email West Bay Farm or call (401) 921-1249
Small Group Volunteering at the Food Bank
A group volunteer event is a great teambuilding activity that supports the Food Bank in our work to end hunger in Rhode Island.
Many organizations choose to make a donation to the Food Bank to increase their impact and help offset the food and staffing costs associated with this team building opportunity. A contribution enables us to purchase more food to create our specialty food boxes and bags, offering more opportunities to volunteer and in turn, supporting more neighbors in need!
Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator for more information about scheduling an event and a current list of available shifts.
Volunteers will be working on box packing projects, which involves standing and moving throughout the shift, occasional lifting of boxes up to 35 pounds and being detail oriented. All volunteers must be at least 14 years old.
Please Note: Due to the nature of the volunteer projects currently available in our warehouse, the Food Bank cannot accommodate individual volunteer requests. This includes court or Division of Motor Vehicles mandated community service hours. Please visit United Way of Rhode Island for a list of available volunteer opportunities throughout Rhode Island, many of which accommodate court-mandated service.
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Other Ways to Get Involved
Host a Virtual Fundraiser
Set up an online fundraiser to raise money with your friends, family, or colleagues.
Learn More
Donate Food
Learn how you can start a food drive to benefit the Food Bank. See a list of needed food and download posters and materials.
Start a Drive
Advocate for Change
Join us in advocating for policies that can decrease food insecurity and strengthen our communities.
Advocate
Join Our Email List
Stay up to date on the need for food assistance in our community and how you can help.