Service & Care Volunteers

• Adults
• Children
• Immigration & Refugee Services
• Low-Income
• Communication
• Community Engagement/Advocacy
• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
• Social Skills
• Teamwork

Opportunity last updated:
July 15th

• Suitable for Seniors
• Suitable for Youth

Service & Care Volunteers support the Client Services team in providing Emergency Food Assistance. This involves supporting clients while ensuring a welcoming, inclusive and accessible environment. Duties include tasks such as greeting clients and updating files, fulfilling hamper orders, facilitating pick room access and empowering clients while decreasing barriers to services. These tasks are done safely and effectively through detailed processes while adhering to food safety guidelines.

Skills and

Qualifications:

• Good customer service skills including listening, empathy and maintaining dignity for clients
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while standing continuously
• Able to work with a diverse group of individuals
• Some positions require heavy lifting activities on a regular basis (40lbs and over)
• Must be able to work with minimal supervision and demonstrate initiative
• Intermediate computer skills are an asset
• Greet clients and support provision of Emergency Food Services (hampers and pick room access)
• Support Service & Care Team – Volunteers will be cross trained in duties to ensure the flexibility to fill in where needed
  • Client Intake duties include capturing client data with each client visit, placing hamper orders and communicating with the Client Services Team to fulfill client requests
  • Hamper Pulling duties include assembling the components of the food hamper, bundles and add-ons to fulfill client requests
  • Client Liaison duties include supporting clients with questions and facilitating quick and efficient access to hampers and pick room
  • Pick Room Assistant duties include managing and maintaining food stocks in the pick room in accordance with food safety standards
• Maintain order and flow of service provision
• Maintain a positive and helpful attitude while working with IFB client families
• As a representative of IFB during volunteer shifts, act in a courteous and respectful manner
• Be punctual and dependable when reporting for assigned shifts
• Maintain confidentiality of donors, clients, volunteers and program participants

16 years old or above

• IFB Shift Orientation and Volunteer Profile Creation
• Successfully complete trial shift
• Attend Volunteer Onboarding session

• Morning Shift & Afternoon
  
  Shifts:
  
  vary upon the position assigned to.
• Interfaith Food Bank has a 2 shifts/week maximum.
• Willing to make long-term (at least 4-month commitment ideal)

Administrative & Office Work , Behind the Scenes , Community Engagement , Food Preparation & Distribution , Immigrant & Refugee Services

Advanced

Volunteer Advocates support the Service & Care Team by working with the Client Advocacy Coordinator to provide information, referrals and community connections to help address the underlying issues that are placing individuals in need of food bank supports. Duties include providing referrals, assisting clients with applications, appointments and systems navigation, and general administrative duties to maintain client files. Advocacy roles require an understanding of local community resources, a familiarity with vulnerable populations with complex issues, and a commitment to providing services with upmost dignity.

Skills &

Qualifications:

• Familiar with working with vulnerable populations, able to respond and support with dignity, respect and tact
• High attention to detail and strong listening skills
• Intermediate computer skills required for navigating websites and referral processes
• Awareness of community services and programs an asset, ability to research available supports to provide effective information and referrals

Volunteer Drivers provide support to our Operations Team by assisting with smaller pickups and/or deliveries using their own vehicles and assisting our paid staff with additional errands and warehouse activities. As representatives of the food bank off-site, Volunteer Drivers will interact with donors and suppliers on our behalf and should be capable of heavy lifting and working in fast-paced and ever-changing environments.

Drivers interested in supporting Hamper Deliveries to food bank families will be subject to additional screening requirements (not required for all Volunteer Drivers).

General Warehouse Volunteers support the Operations Team with the receipt, storage and preparation of food and non-food products to facilitate food bank programs and services. Duties include tasks such as sorting, repackaging, hamper building and bundling, in addition to maintaining general warehouse organization and cleanliness. These tasks are done safely and effectively through detailed processes while adhering to food safety guidelines.