Home Delivery Volunteering

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Home-deliver groceries

Home delivery volunteers commit to regularly delivering nutritious groceries to our senior and homebound clients.

This opportunity is a hands-on activity and is open to individuals who are at least 18 years old, can pass a background check and provide proof of auto insurance and a valid CA driver’s license. As volunteers, you use your own vehicle, mileage and gas to deliver food.

As a home delivery volunteer, you will work onsite at the distribution location and help prepare food for delivery. You will load boxes, so you must be able to lift up to 35 pounds. You must follow a pre-established route, follow food safety and COVID-19 health guidance, and have excellent client service skills that include a desire to interact with older clients or clients with disabilities.

Once you have completed your first volunteer shift, you can decide if you would like to commit as a long-term volunteer. If you would like to move forward, you must clear a background check before volunteering as a home delivery driver again.

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Information for your first shift

Volunteers will deliver food to homes of seniors and other homebound clients using their own vehicles, mileage and gas. Activities could include helping prepare food for delivery at the distribution site. Heavy lifting – a minimum of 35 pounds – will be required.

Your health and safety is a top priority. Learn more about our health and safety requirements for volunteering as a home delivery driver. Social distancing will be expected for the safety of all. Please maintain six feet of distance from other volunteers and clients.

  • Volunteers must bring and wear a face mask.
  • Please wear comfortable clothing and footwear depending on weather. If needed, bring sunglasses, sunscreen, and hats.
  • Please tie back long hair.
  • Bring water and snacks. It can get very hot and volunteering involves physical activity. Come prepared so you can keep up your energy!
  • If available, please bring a hand cart or small wagon to help you deliver boxes.

You will need to check out with site leadership before departing for verification. We do not write letters, sign third-party forms or electronically confirm hours on a third-party platform. See our volunteer timekeeping policy. A volunteer timecard is available for your use.

Please carefully review your schedule prior to taking a volunteer shift. Cancellations and no shows directly impact our ability to provide the nutritious food our community members need. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please access your personal site and cancel the shift(s) you can no longer attend – if possible, at least one week in advance.

If you are unable to access your personal site, please contact us at homedelivery@shfb.org.

Delivery drivers must follow their pre-established route, exercise good judgment, have consistent attendance and keep good communication with their site lead/delivery coordinator. Most importantly, volunteers should have excellent client service skills that include a desire to interact with older and/or clients with disabilities.

Other things to know:

  • The minimum age to volunteer as a home delivery driver is 18 years old.
  • Volunteers must provide proof of auto insurance and a valid CA driver’s license.
  • Second Harvest is not responsible for your valuables, so please leave all valuables in the trunk of your car.

After your first shift

Once you have completed your first volunteer shift, you can decide if you would like to commit as a long-term volunteer. If you would like to move forward, you must submit to a background check before participating as a home delivery volunteer again.

Home delivery resources