Volunteer for the Mid-South Food Bank! 

Volunteer Signup Process  

1.            Submit volunteer application (link below)

2.            Application is reviewed by Mid-South Food Bank

3.            A volunteer opportunity is chosen and scheduled based on our workload and needs

4.            Volunteer(s) to read volunteer handbook and sign volunteer agreement

5.            Volunteer(s) to sign volunteer hold harmless form

6.            A detailed confirmation is sent to the volunteer

 

Please contact Paula Rushing, 901-373-0400 (office), 901-301-0806 (cell) or prushing@midsouthfoodbank.org

Click here to download the Volunteer Application Form (Individual)
Click here to download the Group Volunteer Application Form

Click here for the Volunteer Handbook

Volunteer Opportunities

Warehouse – Volunteers serve one of three ways at our warehouse:  clean, inspect and sort cans and boxes of donated food, repackage food, or package food for a mobile pantry.   Individuals and groups from companies, churches, schools and other organizations are needed.  Children must be at least 10 years old.   Children age 10-15 must have adult supervision.  Teens, 16 years and older, may volunteer without a chaperone.  Volunteers must be able to stand for long periods of time, be able to lift a minimum of 10 pounds, MUST wear closed-toe shoes or boots and be able to withstand warm temperatures, as our warehouse is not air-conditioned.  This opportunity is available Monday through Thursday, from 9:00 am until 3:30 pm.  As needed, Saturday volunteer opportunities from 9 am until 12 pm are available for groups of 30 or more, though smaller groups and individuals may be grouped together.  Saturdays are our most popular volunteer opportunity and are often booked months in advance.  Please contact us early to secure a Saturday!

 

Food Bank Pantry – Volunteers, 16 years and older, are needed to clean and stock shelves and to organize the pantry where our agencies come to shop for fresh produce, frozen and refrigerated foods, bread and non-perishable items. Volunteers must be able to stand for long periods of time, MUST wear closed-toe shoes or boots.  This opportunity is available Monday through Thursday, from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm and Friday from 8:00 am to Noon. Individuals and groups welcome, but group size cannot exceed 15.

 

Food for Kids BackPack Program – Volunteers, 16 years and older, are needed to pack backpacks with wholesome food.  Volunteers must be able to stand for long periods of time, be able to lift a minimum of 10 pounds, MUST wear closed-toe shoes or boots.  This opportunity is available Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 11:30 am.  Volunteer group size cannot exceed 15.

 

Kids Cafe – Volunteers, 16 years and older, are needed to help serve meals, teach a 30 minute nutritional class before meals, or do a fun activity with the kids.  Three volunteer sites:

• Buckman Boys and Girls Club at 1100 Vollintine serves Tuesday and Wednesday at 4:30 pm
• Bridges Chandler Kids Cafe (Girls Inc.) at 686 N. 7th St. serves Tuesday and Wednesday at 4:00 pm, female volunteers at this location only.
• Carnival Memphis Kids Cafe – Goodwill Boys and Girls Club at 990 College Park serves Wednesday and Thursday beginning at 4:00 pm. 

Each site volunteer time is approximately 1.5 hours.

 

Office Volunteers – Volunteers, 18 years and older, are needed to help with mass mailings, filing, data entry, shredding and other general office duties. October through December is when we need office volunteers the most.  Short shifts (2 hours) available. Office volunteer hours offered from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday.

 

Special Events – Mid-South Food Bank has special events all year long.  These events vary from golf tournaments to food drives.  Ask about upcoming events or visit our website.  

 

Volunteer opportunities are not available on holidays or during inventory shutdown week: New Years Day, Dr. M. L. King Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve & Christmas Day.  2011 inventory shutdown week 12/27-12/30.