Volunteer Connection – January 2018

Special Events:

Distinguished Speaker Series & Annual Meeting – on January 25^th
Volunteers are needed to assist with event breakdown. This is an evening volunteer opportunity and located at the Mayerson Distribution Center, 1250 Tennessee Avenue.

VA Food Pantry Distribution Team – on January 25^th
Volunteers are needed to assist the Cincinnati VA Medical Center in distributing food monthly to veterans. This is an afternoon opportunity (12:30 to 3:30 p.m.) and located at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center at 3200 Vine Street. Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age for this activity.

Coming Soon: Check-Out Power Pack at local Kroger Stores will begin in March and run through April. This is an individual volunteer opportunity that is great for volunteers who work or go to school full time but wish to volunteer with us. Volunteers will adopt and visit one or more of the 60 participating Kroger stores once or twice weekly to help with maintenance of the placards and coupons at the cash registers and U-scans. Volunteers will replace or replenish supplies as needed. At the end of the campaign, volunteers will take down the placards and coupons and discard. Volunteers will be given one hour each week during the campaign run.

There are three Check-Out campaigns throughout the year: Check-Out Power Pack, Check-Out Duck and Check-Out Hunger. These fundraisers are an easy way for donors to help feed our hungry neighbors. Stay tuned for sign-up details online and in the February e-Newsletter.

An Opportunity to share Professional Skills
Volunteers are needed to teach special professional skill based seminars as a part of our workforce development programs: Cincinnati Cooks! and LIFT the TriState. During both of the 10-week courses, students learn the mechanics of either a commercial kitchen or a warehouse, as well as professional and life skills to ensure success in the industry and in their personal lives. Volunteer teachers are needed to present curriculum on resume writing, interviewing, conflict resolution, great work habits and much more. If you are interested in teaching and sharing your professional knowledge contact Brandon Thomas, Volunteer Engagement Specialist directly at bthomas@freestorefoodbank.org or call 513-482-7547.

Mayerson Distribution Center
Located at 1250 Tennessee Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229.

Warehouse Shifts:
Shifts are held Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Projects include food sorting/scanning, assembling food boxes such as senior boxes (additional groceries given to our older adult customers ages 55+) and packing Power Packs for area school children. Volunteers must be at least 13 years of age to volunteer. Student 13-18 must have parental consent and students 13-15 years of age must be accompanied by an adult

Both individuals and groups are welcome at the Distribution Center.
Individuals may self-register on the website.
Groups of 10-25 people can schedule to volunteer by completing a request form on the website.

Student Nights at the Warehouse:
Are you a high school or college student and need community services hours for school or a specific project? Here’s your chance to earn three hours of credit while helping your community. Students assist with sorting donations from canned food drives, assembling Power Packs, and/or a variety of simple projects during the volunteer session. Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age and in need of community service hours for high school, college, grants, or civic group requirement.

The Giving Fields
Located at 101 Anderson Lane, Melbourne, KY 41059

The Giving Fields is our community farm located in Melbourne, Kentucky – approximately five minutes from NKU. We plant, maintain and harvest fresh produce for our partner food pantries and soup kitchens in Northern Kentucky. Registration will open at the beginning of January for the 2018 growing season. This is a great volunteer opportunity for people of all ages. Families with children five years of age and older, high school and college students, as well as individuals and groups are welcome. The farm is slated to reopen in late March or early April – weather permitting.

Liberty Street Market
Located at 112 E. Liberty, Cincinnati, OH 45204.

Individuals or groups of 10 or less can schedule a time to volunteer in the Liberty Street Market, Monday-Friday from 8am-4pm. Volunteers are required to commit to at least two or more hours at a time. Projects include food sorting, restocking shelves with groceries, assisting customers with their groceries outside of the building and loading groceries in their vehicle in front of the building. Volunteers must be at least 16-years-old (with parental consent) to volunteer at this site. Please email Brandon Thomas at bthomas@freestorefoodbank.org or call 513-482-7547 to schedule.

Let’s keep giving the entire year in 2018! We are always looking for groups and individuals to help us out throughout the year, not just around the holiday season. For more information, check out the volunteer registration and information page to learn how to sign up to volunteer for our ongoing group and individual volunteer opportunities.

We have daily openings at the Mayerson Distribution Center and the Customer Connection Center’s Liberty Street Market. The Giving Fields is closed, but registration for the 2018 season will open in February.

Donations of canned goods are needed all year-round! If you would like to organize a canned food drive, please fill out the online form available here.

Are you interested in becoming a member of the Freestore Foodbank team? Please click here for our current employment opportunities.