Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are welcome, but volunteering is not required to receive groceries from St. Johns Food Share. We are fortunate to have many dedicated volunteers who work with us to improve our team. Contact us for information on how you can help.
Volunteers Work Together
Our volunteers are the heart of our organization. You’ll find them in the warehouse, store, office and community. Typical tasks include:
- Supporting clients in the store with their shopping visit
- Arranging store shelves at opening and closing.
- Helping to maintain a clean and safe facility.
- Driving our truck to pick-up food donations.
- Community outreach to increase awareness and donations.
Leadership Opportunities
We welcome anyone who wants to participate in our food sharing community. We seek caring people to achieve food security in our community, and who have time and talent to bring to our team. Being a recipient of food resources from St. Johns Food Share is not a requirement for helping out. In addition to regular duties, leadership positions are available in four essential areas:
- Store Leader: Merchandising, volunteer coordination, operations.
- Warehouse Leader: Food storage and re-stocking, inventory management.
- Office Leader: Bookkeeping, administrative, marketing, volunteer management.
- Board of Directors: Outreach, Fundraising, Volunteer Coordination.
How to Become a Volunteer
- Read the volunteer guidelines and fill out the volunteer application. Or come in during our open hours and ask for an application. If you would like to volunteer as a truck driver, please fill out driver application.
- As a partner agency of the Oregon Food Bank, volunteers are required annually to receive training in food safety and client civil rights/confidentiality. These are online trainings that can be completed at home or at the St Johns Food Share. If you have a current Oregon Food Handler’s Card or ServSafe for Food Banks Certification, you can skip the Food Safety video. St Johns Food Share encourages all of its volunteers to obtain a valid Oregon Food Handler’s Card and will reimburse the fee. Please click the links below to watch the two short video trainings, which are available in English and en español.
- Bring your completed application in to the St Johns Food Share during our open hours and let someone know that you are here to volunteer!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can anyone visit St Johns Food Share?
A: Yes, the pantry is open to all, we do not ask for income information.
Q: Do you have to live in St Johns to be able to shop?
A: No. We have clients from across Portland, and surrounding communities as well as from Washington.
Q: How much does it cost to be a client?
A: There is no cost associated with shopping at the Food Share.
Q: Is there a limit on how much food I can get?
A: Amounts of many food items have quantity limits, so there will be enough for all. When there is enough of certain items then you may take as much as you can use. There is no limit on the total number of pounds of food you can take, it is only based on what we have offered for that particular day.
Q: What if I am disabled and wish to volunteer?
A: The store is ADA accessible. We work with volunteers to find a duty that is a good fit for you. There are many types of things to do, and we can nearly always find something for everyone, from sorting produce to greeting members when they arrive.
Q: Is childcare available?
A: No, but children are welcome in the facility when supervised by an adult.