April is National Volunteer Month, and we’d like to take a moment to thank all our volunteers for the incredible work that they do daily to support our neighbors facing food insecurity. Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. Without them, our mission wouldn’t be able to continue striving forward, and we are so grateful that they give their time to aid in the fight against hunger!
At SMFB, volunteer tasks differ daily, but we have a wide range of opportunities and we welcome all community members to join us! No matter your age or needed accommodations, there’s something for everyone to get involved in.
Mobile Markets
Our Mobile Markets Program brings fresh, healthy foods directly into low-resource neighborhoods to eliminate travel burdens and barriers and ensure that all our neighbors have what they need to thrive! Mobile Markets are available in all eight counties that we serve and run from April-October.
We are now accepting volunteers at Mobile Markets! As a volunteer, you may be tasked with greeting neighbors, helping them gather their fresh foods, or distributing meal kits as needed. Volunteering at a Mobile Market is the perfect opportunity to directly see the impact you’re helping to create!
Clean Room
Our Clean Room is temperature controlled and properly sanitized to allow us to repack bulk items into family-sized portions for redistribution. If you’re volunteering in the Clean Room, you may be repacking, weighing, or sealing various different foods, such as cereal, pasta, crackers, frozen vegetables, or more.
Fresh Food Boxes
Our Fresh Food Distributions are in partnership with our agencies, occurring year-round at various sites across our service-area. Each fresh food box is filled with 20+ pounds of fresh, nutritious foods, such as fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, and bakery items so that our neighbors can supplement meals, rather than make sacrifices.
Volunteers pack about 75% of the food we distribute, and many of that includes fresh food boxes! On average, 2,100 boxes are packed and distributed each week. Volunteers are vital to ensuring our Fresh Food Distribution Program can make the most impact possible across our community.
Repack Area
In our repack area, volunteers help to sort and weigh nonperishable food donations that SMFB has received. This allows us to add products to our purchasing lists for agencies, or to our shopping area that agencies can browse when they pick up their orders.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
Our Commodity Supplemental Food Program supports seniors in our community who are facing food insecurity. The program is currently available in Branch and St. Joseph counties.
We rely heavily on volunteers to help pack an average of 1,600 CSFP boxes every other month. These boxes are filled with nutritious nonperishables to ensure every senior in our community can thrive.
Events
Throughout the year, SMFB hosts or partners with various community organizations for events across our service-area. Volunteers are occasionally needed for these events! If you’re interested in volunteering at an event, you can regularly check our social media channels or subscribe to our email list to receive updates on these volunteer opportunities.
For those who may have physical limitations, we have plenty of other opportunities for you to volunteer and get involved in our mission! Whether it’s building boxes, labeling bags, or other non-strenuous jobs, we can find something for you.
Overall, there are a lot of volunteer opportunities for you to join the fight against hunger. We are very thankful for every volunteer that gives their time, effort, and heart to help feed our neighbors! If you’re interested in volunteering with us, please sign up on our Volunteer Hub!
