Volunteers are an essential ingredient to FeedMore WNY’s ability to provide access to nutritious food to our neighbors in need. From packaging food to delivering freshly-made home-delivered meals, individual and group volunteers make a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.
Learn more about available opportunities below or click on the Sign Up to Volunteer button to sign-up for an opportunity that is right for you.
Meal delivery volunteers are needed Monday through Friday at various locations throughout Erie and Niagara counties, especially in the Cities of Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Volunteers sign up as either drivers, servers or both and generally work in pairs to deliver much-needed nutrition and friendly conversation to up to 12 clients during the lunch hour. Volunteers can work as little or as much as they like – working every day, once a week or even once a month.
Click here to sign up to volunteer as a home-delivered meal driver or server.
Delivering meals to our neighbors as part of the Adopt-A-Route program is an easy and efficient way for companies and groups to give back to the community. It helps individuals find time to give back—no matter how busy someone’s schedule may be. Plus, it makes people feel good and helps cement relationships within a team.
Some organizations already participating in the Adopt-A-Route program include:
Heritage Christian Services
People Inc.
SASI
Buffalo State College
Rich Products
Arc of Erie County
PCA Technology
Hilbert College
Buffalo Rehab Group
Canisius University
Aleron
Aspire
Catholic Health
Delaware North
Lawley
M&T Bank
Contact our Volunteer Team at volunteer@feedmorewny.org or at (716) 822-2005 ext. 3077 to learn more about our Adopt-A-Route program or to get started today!
Click here to sign up to volunteer as a home-delivered meal driver or server.
Volunteer at FeedMore WNY’s warehouse to help those in need of one of life’s most necessary commodities — food. It’s easy, fun and volunteers make it possible for us to get the work done. Volunteers are essential at all levels of food bank operations, especially sorting and repackaging food. Individuals and groups are welcome. All opportunities have specific age and skill requirements and require advance registration.
We are happy to host groups of people coming together from work, church or school. We also offer volunteer opportunities for youth who are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Contact our Volunteer Team at volunteer@feedmorewny.org or at (716) 822-2005 ext. 3048 to learn more about our volunteer group opportunities.
Volunteers can assist us in answering calls at our central office; shifts are available from 8 am - 12 pm, 12 pm - 4 pm or 8 am - 4 pm. Volunteers also are needed to assist in the office with a myriad of tasks such as filing, stuffing envelopes, making companion calls to our home-delivered meal recipients and setting up for events. Skilled professionals, such as graphic designers, also are needed to assist with projects. Office, event and professional assistance is less regular but still very important to the organization.
Volunteers are needed to help tend our onsite Community Garden and to help maintain flower beds at each of our office locations. Weeding, planting and harvesting all need to be done throughout the summer. If you are interested in gardening, please join us. No experience is necessary. Our Farm Manager will show you exactly what to do to help maintain our gardens.
Volunteers are needed for our Food Farmacy food pantry at
D’Youville University’s Health Professions Hub. Volunteers assist with moving food
items from the receiving area up to the food pantry and storage area on the third
and fourth floors (using the service elevators and carts). In addition, volunteers
help with unpackaging items, placing them on shelves, and updating inventory. All
volunteers should be able to lift 30-50 pounds, and be able to bend, twist, etc. in
order to move the food items.
Volunteers are needed to help package individual frozen meals for our neighbors in need! Volunteers may be required to lift light-weight to medium-weight boxes, volunteers must be 14 or older to participate and any volunteer age 14 or 15 will need to be accompanied by an adult, who must also register and sign up. Please dress comfortably, wear closed-toe shoes without a heel, and refrain from wearing hanging jewelry such as bracelets and dangly earrings.
Schools, students, or anyone who likes arts and crafts can create handmade crafts and holiday cards for our homebound neighbors who receive our meal services. Learn more about this program by contacting the Volunteer Team at volunteer@feedmorewny.org.
Q: Who should volunteer?
A: Anyone looking to make a difference! Volunteering is a great opportunity for retirees, high school and college students, business professionals, teachers, shift workers, stay-at-home moms and dads, church groups and others.
Q: Are there any requirements for volunteers?
A: To deliver home-delivered meals, volunteers must be 16 years old or older, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. For other volunteer opportunities, children between the ages of 12 and 15 must have a chaperone with them.
FeedMore WNY may run a basic background check on volunteers prior to their starting to help ensure the safety of our clients.
Q: Do I have to have a car?
A: Only home-delivered meal drivers are required to have a car. Based on where the site nearest you is located, you may be in easy walking distance, or you may be able to arrange to have a driver pick you up and drop you off for volunteering.
Warehouse, garden and office volunteers do not need to have a car. Both our James E. Casey Drive and Holt Street locations have easy access to public transportation.
Q: When do you need volunteers?
A: Our primary volunteer assignments are performed during the workday. Home-delivered meals are delivered on weekdays only between the hours of 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please note that each home-delivered meal site has a defined start and end time and that a route generally takes an hour or less. We do offer Saturday volunteer hours in our warehouse. On occasion, we have weekend and evening opportunities for special event volunteers. Visit our volunteer sign-up page to learn more about available shifts.
Q: Can I perform my court-mandated community service hours at FeedMore WNY?
A: Please call our volunteer team at 822-2005 x 3077 to learn more about our policies regarding court-mandated community service hours and if you are eligible to fulfil them with FeedMore WNY.