Warehouse Activities

The minimum age to volunteer is 14 years old. Youth between the ages of 14 - 15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian 21 years of age or older. Any youth under the age of 18 must have a signed Parent Permission Form. All volunteers must sign our Volunteer Agreement. Please wear closed-toed shoes and long pants and leave all personal belongings in your vehicle.

Warehouse Food Sorting

It is estimated that one third of all pounds distributed is touched by our warehouse food sorting volunteers!

Volunteers 14 years of age and older are needed to sort food at our warehouses. Volunteers inspect and categorize donated food products (such as dry goods and produce) and bag, box, or repack to ready for distribution. Training is provided at the beginning of each shift.

Please review our requirements.

Group and individual food sort schedules are listed for each county location. Please click on the Food Bank location listed below for details.

• Santa Clara County Food Sort Schedule
• San Mateo County Food Sort Schedule

For groups, in addition to these posted food sorts, there are limited daytime food sorts for groups size 5 to 25. Sorts are two-hours in duration and are scheduled some Mondays through Fridays from either 9:00am to 11:00am or 1:00pm to 3:00pm.

For individuals, in addition to food sorting, we hope you will consider our other opportunities listed here.

Sign up for a sort!

Team Leaders

Opportunities available in both counties. Team Leaders are our ambassadors and provide orientation and manage food sorting projects during evening and weekend food sorting shifts. This is a great way to develop your leadership and presentation skills. We will train you on Food Bank facts, how to lead a food sorting project, how to use a pallet jack and about general warehouse safety.

• Requirements: Friendly, outgoing, energetic individuals who would like to donate three hours per shift to help supervise our various food sorting projects.
• Where: Both Second Harvest Food Bank locations.
• When: Sorting opportunities run three hours and are generally two to four times per month in the evenings and on Saturday mornings.
• Commitment: Some volunteer team leaders participate several times a month; others are able to volunteer as infrequently as once every few months.
• Sign-up: Contact the volunteer scheduler for your county

Agency Relations Assistance

Second Harvest and its partner agencies share a mutually beneficial relationship. Central to this is Second Harvest Food Bank's ability to serve low-income individuals and families by providing food to our Partner Agencies, who in turn rely on Second Harvest for a portion of the food they provide to clients. Our partner agencies range from tiny neighborhood faith-based organizations to large organizations such as the Salvation Army or Boys and Girls Clubs. Food is distributed through a range of distribution methods including delivery, on-line ordering, "shopping" at our Curtner or Bing Centers, and at field locations in the community. Volunteers are needed to help in a variety of ways with the distribution of food both at our warehouses and out at field sites. Listed below are several opportunities to connect with Second Harvest, our partner agencies, and clients that receive food.

Agency Check Out Volunteer

Assist partner agency representatives: Help agencies make food selections, check food orders for accuracy, provide assistance in assuring that the agency "shopping" area is neat and orderly, restocking shelves with food supplies, verify food selections are accurately documented on agency orders, and promote nutrition education resources.

Location: Curtner Center (750 Curtner Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125)

Time: Weekly (volunteer a minimum of 1 shift per week ideally for a minimum of at least 3 months)
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 7:00am - 12:00pm
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Requirements:

• Ability to read and write English
• Like to work with people
• Strong customer service aptitude
• Willingness to work as a team member and independently
• Ability to stand with limited bending
• Minimum of 18 years of age

Contact: Shirley Chang at 408-266-8866 ext. 272

Agency Customer Service Representative

Assist with greeting partner agency representatives and checking in when they arrive at Second Harvest's Curtner Center. Verify "authorized shopper" status. Assist with food order paperwork. Inform them of special offerings and nutrition resources. Some light data entry and filing.

Location: Curtner Center (750 Curtner Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125)

Time: Weekly (volunteer a minimum of 1 shift per week ideally for a minimum of at least 3 months)
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 7:00am - 12:00pm
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Requirements:

• Light computer entry skills (willing to teach)
• Ability to read and write English
• Like to work with people.
• Strong customer service aptitude
• Willingness to work as a team member and independently
• Ability to stand
• Minimum of 18 years of age

Contact: Shirley Chang at 408-266-8866 ext. 272

Agency Produce Hub Volunteer

Assist partner agency representatives: Help make produce selections, check that food orders are accurate verifing that they have accurately documented their food selections and provide assistance in assuring that the agency "shopping" area is neat and orderly.

Locations:

• Curtner Center (750 Curtner Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125)
• field site located in Central San Jose
• Bing Center (1051 Bing Street, San Carlos, CA 94070)
• field sites located across San Mateo County

Times: Weekly (volunteer a minimum of 1 shift per week ideally for a minimum of at least 3 months)

Requirements:

• Ability to read and write English
• Like to work with people
• Strong customer service aptitude
• Willingness to work as a team member and independently
• Ability to stand with limited bending
• Minimum of 18 years of age

Contact: Tometrius Paxton at 408-266-8866 ext. 241