Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers make a huge difference in the effort to end food insecurity in the 26 counties we serve. The St. Louis Area Foodbank is grateful for the nearly 62,000 hours spent by volunteers in our Repacking Center and at our distribution events last year. Your generosity enables us to direct a larger percent of our funding toward assisting our neighbors rather hiring staff to fill these vital roles.
Thank you for your time and ongoing support.
Volunteer Today!
Ways to Get Involved
Individual volunteers and volunteer groups lend support to our day-to-day operations as well as helping to staff special events and other opportunities. We are excited for you to join us!
Volunteer Center
The work done in our Volunteer Center would take 21 full-time employees to complete. Volunteers make our mission possible! We can accommodate volunteers ages 6 and up.
Distribution Events
Multiple times a month, the Foodbank hits the road to deliver large quantities of food directly to communities in need. Venture out across our service territory to assist us or our partners with distributions by handing out food, setting up and cleaning up.
Group Volunteering
If you have a group (business, club, church group, organization, scout troop, etc) who is interested in volunteering together, please click the box below and complete the form.
Lead Volunteers
Have you volunteered in our Volunteer Center before and are looking to volunteer at least once a month? Then consider becoming a Lead Volunteer! Lead Volunteers work regularly in the Volunteer Center and help our staff train, lead and support other volunteers through daily projects. Check out the Lead Volunteer job description to learn more about what our Lead Volunteers do.
Special Events
Throughout the year, the Foodbank hosts or participates in special events, and we need volunteers to make it possible! Join us here at the Foodbank or out in the community and assist with event registration, raffles, special food distributions, and more!
Volunteer at a Pantry
Many of our agency partners are in need of volunteers. And the best part? They’re right in your backyard! Visit our Pantry Locator and enter your address to get a list of pantries closest to you. The list includes contact information, so feel free to call the pantry directly to ask about volunteer opportunities.
Volunteer Hours
Click the button below to learn about available shifts and other opportunities to volunteer.
More ways to volunteer
Volunteer From Home
Volunteer from home and make Hope Notes for people receiving food boxes. The St. Louis Area Foodbank is collecting notes of encouragement for seniors in need of food. Your illustrated notes and/or cards will be included in food boxes distributed in Missouri and Illinois.
Please send your cards to:
St. Louis Area Foodbank
ATTN: Philanthropy Office
70 Corporate Woods Drive
Bridgeton, MO 63044
Volunteer Match
Many companies offer volunteer hour “matching” programs encouraging employees to support a charitable organization. Most of these programs match your time hour for hour with a monetary donation!
Please check with your company to see if they offer a volunteer hour match program.
know before you go
All visits must be scheduled. We are usually scheduling groups one to two months in advance, so depending on the size of your group, we ask that you please plan accordingly.
All volunteers must be registered individually in advance of shift. If you have a group (business, club, church group, organization, scout troop, etc) who is interested in volunteering together, please complete this form.
Shift time commitments vary depending on type of service.
For your safety, mobility and the enjoyment of all volunteers we do have some clothing requirements, including but not limited to:
- Closed-toed shoes
- Clothing free of offensive language
- Clothing that limits mobility
If you’re wearing open-toed shoes, clothing that may offend others or limit your ability to perform volunteer activities, the Foodbank’s Volunteer Center staff would be happy to reassign you to an appropriate volunteer position or may ask you to leave.
The average size is about 20 people per group. However, we can easily accommodate larger groups. Smaller groups are welcomed as are individuals – there’s plenty to do and everyone is needed!
Ages 11 and up. Preferably one adult for every five to ten kids under the age of 16.
Court appointed voluntary service must be approved in advance by filling out the form available here.
Have an Idea?
Would you like to use your talents on a regular basis to help the Foodbank? If so, complete an application to tell us about you and send it to volunteers@stlfoodbank.org. We will be in touch to discuss what opportunities might be available.