Home Delivery Volunteering

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Deliver groceries to home-bound clients

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 25 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 25 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. Face masks are required for Second Harvest volunteers in indoor settings. They are recommended, but not required, in outdoor settings. In addition, volunteers must follow posted rules at any of our partner sites.

  • Face masks are required for Second Harvest volunteers in indoor settings. They are recommended, but not required, in outdoor settings.
  • 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 psvolunteerdesk@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.

Volunteer driver information

Home Delivery volunteer drivers use a smart phone app (“Field Service”) to receive routes, get directions, and update delivery status throughout their shift.

If you have signed up to volunteer as a home delivery driver, please follow the steps outlined above.

If you have questions about how to download or use the app, please contact Home Delivery Coordinator Jennifer Godinez Maldonado (jmaldonado@shfb.org or 408-266-8866, ext. 157).

We’re here to help! There will also be staff/volunteers on site on the day of your shift to provide additional instructions and in-person assistance.

How to use the driver app (Field Service)

How to download and set up the app:

How to use the app:

Home delivery resources