Volunteer

Our volunteers are the heart of our organization, always eager to lend a hand, and help move forward our work of food security. With more than a hundred individuals joining us each week, you truly power the work we do. From serving on our committees, to handing out groceries, providing translation assistance, and so much more, our volunteers are truly our partners in ending hunger in our community.

Stay up to date on the latest happenings at the food bank, new volunteer opportunities, and more, with our volunteer newsletter!

Our parking lot is closed as we prepare for construction. If you’re driving to our food bank, please find street parking on S Henderson St or along 50th Ave S. For parking accommodations, please contact volunteer@rvfb.org prior to your visit.

sign up to join us

We’re so excited to have you join us! Volunteer opportunities are available from Tuesday through Friday.

New Volunteer

1. Joining us for the first time? Help us learn a little bit more about you before you sign up for your first shift.

Apply to Volunteer

2. No need to wait — sign up for your first volunteer shift today!

Parent permission forms are required for volunteers under 15 years old. Please complete the form and email it to volunteer@rvfb.org or fill out a copy when you visit us on-site.

Returning Volunteers

Welcome back! We’re excited to see you again. If you’re ready to lend a hand, be sure to sign up for a shift for home delivery, bag packing, or in-person shopping.

Looking to track your volunteer hours? Rainier Valley Food Bank is a court-approved community service location. Chat with one of our staff members to learn how, or email us at volunteer@rvfb.org.

Thank you for joining us to volunteer! Our volunteers play an essential role in keeping our programs running. We understand things happen; if you’re unable to attend or need to adjust your volunteer shift, please let us know at least 48 hours in advance or as soon as possible so that we can properly resource our team.

More Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer as a Group

Are you and a group of friends or colleagues looking for an opportunity to impact your community and bond in the process? Consider volunteering as a group!

Apply online to ensure we can best utilize your group’s time. Our max group size is 15 volunteers, with some days limited to 8 volunteers. Please reach out, and our Volunteer Coordinator will contact you shortly to schedule a time for your group to work with us!

Group applications must be submitted at least one month before your intended volunteer date.

Apply to Volunteer as a Group

Join a Board or Committee

Are you looking to make a consistent commitment to help fight food insecurity? Our board and committees work in partnership with our staff to help further our work. Reach out to our team to learn more about joining our board, capital campaign committee, development committee, executive committee, facilities committee, finance committee, governance committee, or programs committee.

Get in Touch

Special Skills Positions Available

Grocery Rescue
Backpack Program Delivery Driver
Translation Assistance (Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Spanish)
Client Care Team

Email us to Learn More

Volunteer from Home Kit

Are you looking for a way to join us without spending a few hours at our facility? Create your own packing party with our volunteer-from-home kit! Whether you’re gathering a group of coworkers, a few friends, or just looking for something to keep your hands busy — we’re excited to have you join us. Thank you for helping us pack goods for our community!

Create Your Own Packing Party

Volunteer Stories

Featured

Through the Eyes of a Volunteer: Lavender’s Story

A perfect fit for the fast-paced environment in the distribution center, Lavender is always quick to step in and lend a hand. From passing out fresh produce to making sure everything is running smoothly, she plays an important role in helping feed our community.

Through the Eyes of a Volunteer: Alanna’s Story

As a dietician, Alanna understands the power food has on communities. “I like to think of food as a central part of my life in particular, but I’d like it to be that way for others because I know it's important for a lot of cultures. Food is what brings everything together.”

Through the Eyes of a Volunteer: Joyce & Randy

A former teacher and former nurse – Joyce and Randy, are the dream team that have created an entire community network within the food bank. Their go-to delivery device, Randy’s Prius with a vibrant flame painted on the side, has left as much of an impression as their service to the community over the past two years.

Through the Eyes of a Volunteer: Renee

For some, the connection to community and the opportunity to build bonds is more than enough to entice them to give their time. Passionate about healthy food and serving her community, Renee first became involved two years ago, at the onset of the pandemic, when she and her friend Maggie signed up to be delivery drivers.

Through the Eyes of a Volunteer: Robb’s Story

For volunteers like Robb, showing up and packing bags is all about checking in with chosen family and being active within his community – something he remembers his parents instilled in him early on.

FAQ

We welcome volunteers of all ages. Please see our age range specifications for more information.
0-5 years old: Cannot volunteer on-site. Please consider hosting a food, bag, or hygiene item drive with your youngest children. Little ones also love bringing produce from their home gardens to donate!

6-11 years old: May volunteer with a responsible adult present for their whole shift. Children on the younger side of this age range should have one adult for every child.

12-15 years old: May volunteer without an adult present if signed permission form is on file with contact number for a parent/guardian.

16+ years old: May volunteer with no restrictions.
Contact volunteer@rvfb.org as soon as possible to cancel a shift. This allows other volunteers time to fill in.
We do have some onsite parking available, please enter through our back gate on 50th Ave S. If our lot is full, please find street parking on 50th Ave or nearby.
YES! We verify hours for court, school, or work. Ask the volunteer coordinator or other staff for a log to track your hours if you were not given one. A staff member must sign off on your hours at the end of each shift. Notify the volunteer coordinator when you complete your requirement, we will make a copy for our records and give you one to turn in.
Masks must be worn while indoors at RVFB. We keep all doors to the warehouse open to increase air circulation. We ask that anyone experiencing symptoms stay home until they are feeling better, regardless if it is COVID or other illness. Contact volunteer@rvfb.org if you need to cancel a shift.
Volunteers are welcome to pack a bag of food 1x per week. You do not have to volunteer on a shopping day to receive your food. Food must be packed at the beginning or end of your shift, donations that come in during the shift are off limits and only food that is out for distribution that day may be used according to the distribution guidelines. Volunteers may not take extra food.
Contact our volunteer coordinator at volunteer@rvfb.org to find out if we can work with your schedule.
We do not have any ongoing evening volunteer opportunities. We do occasionally need help with special events.
Subscribe to our newsletter for volunteer updates as well as events, community recipes, and more!
Yes whether you are a corporate group, Student group, or large family looking to volunteer together. Our group capacity* is 8 on Wednesdays, 10-15 on Thursdays, and 8 on Friday and Saturdays. We ask groups to apply at least 3 weeks in advance as our shifts do fill up fast with strong community support.

*We are sometimes able to work with larger groups on a case by case basis. Please contact our volunteer coordinator at volunteer@rvfb.org with any questions about your group.

In 2022 our community provided nearly…

16,000

hours of service.