Recurring Volunteer Roles
Everyone should have access to healthy food
Second Harvest provides nutritious groceries and fresh produce at distribution sites throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. These sites are volunteer-run and rely on committed, dedicated volunteers who can support this effort on an ongoing basis.
We also welcome volunteers who want to help sort food, greet volunteers or lead new volunteer groups at our Cypress Center warehouse in North San Jose. Help us provide a warm and welcoming environment for our clients and volunteers. The below opportunities are available to those interested in volunteering on a regular basis.
If you can’t commit to volunteering on a regular basis right now, we’d still love to have you! Register for a volunteer experience with no long-term commitment through our calendar.
Home Delivery Driver (individuals)
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.
Client Greeter/Registration (individuals)
COVID-19 update: If you’re bilingual, healthy and able to assist clients at distribution sites, we need your help as a client greeter and registration volunteer.
A client greeter and registration volunteer is the first point of contact for clients at Second Harvest’s distribution sites. These volunteers must have a cheerful, welcoming demeanor and a willingness to welcome new clients. The greeter and registration volunteer is responsible for:
- Answer questions clients may have (in their preferred language)
- Setting expectations for the distribution
- Helping new clients navigate the distribution
Volunteers must be willing and able to work with people of different backgrounds and nationalities, exhibit compassion and sensitivity, and uphold strict confidentiality of all client and volunteer information.
Food Distributor (individuals or groups)
Food distribution is a hands-on volunteer role. Responsibilities could include:
- Assisting with room set-up
- Assisting the driver in unloading pallets of food
- Moving and arranging food to facilitate the distribution process
- Distributing food and helping clients carry food to their cars
- Cleaning up, including breaking down boxes and removing empty pallets
This is a great chance for volunteers to interface with our clients. This volunteer activity does require some heavy lifting (a minimum of 25 lbs.) and regular movement.
Volunteers must be willing and able to work with people of different backgrounds and nationalities, exhibit compassion and sensitivity, maintain safe working conditions, and uphold strict confidentiality of all member and volunteer information.
Volunteer Liaison (individuals)
If you are friendly, outgoing and comfortable with public speaking (or want to improve those skills), this program may be for you. As a volunteer liaison, you’ll greet volunteers coming to sort food at our Cypress Center in North San Jose. Training will be provided so you’re comfortable with Second Harvest facts, answering questions, helping volunteers sign in upon arrival and potentially, lead meet-and-greet orientations and warehouse tours.
Volunteer Team Leader (individuals)
Help us run our food sorting projects at our Cypress Center in North San Jose. As a volunteer team leader, you’ll be leveraging your skills to help us train and lead new volunteers. Become a leader in your community and help us end local hunger. Training is provided.
Volunteer Site Leader (individuals)
Help lead the execution of the distribution of food at an offsite location with the help of other dedicated volunteers and the support of Second Harvest staff. As a volunteer site leader, you’ll be maintaining accurate and confidential client and volunteer records, creating a warm and welcoming environment, ensuring all safety guidelines are followed, and more.