Frequently Asked Questions
I want to volunteer! How do I sign up to do that?
The first step in volunteering is
to register for an account. Registering as a volunteer is
crucial to our ability to plan projects and ensure volunteer safety. Once
registered, you can sign up online through the Opportunities
Calendar.
In order to create a safe and enjoyable volunteer experience, every volunteer
must register in advance and sign up for an
opportunity that has available slots in a shift. Our organization relies
on volunteer service to complete our mission. It is important for us to have an
accurate count of how many volunteers to expect so we can plan accordingly. We
strive to provide a quality experience for both our neighbors and volunteers.
When volunteers do not show up for their scheduled shift, it negatively impacts
the volunteer experience and food distribution process. Please arrive on time
and stay for the duration of the shift. We appreciate advance notice for
cancelations so we can accommodate waitlisted volunteers.
I want to volunteer with family, friends, or coworkers. How do I get us signed up together?
If you're volunteering and want to bring a group, click the "Respond as a Team" button on the opportunity page and register as a team. You can reserve slots on a shift for your desired number of team members.
It's important that we know how many people will be arriving for safety and project planning. For groups with 15 members or more, please contact our Community Engagement Manager, Hayden Prince, at HPrince@feedingnefl.org. Include your team name, your expected head count, and the desired dates and times you would like to join us.
I need to cancel. How do I unregister for a shift?
Once logged in to your account, navigate to your Opportunity Responses. Here you'll see your upcoming shifts. Select 'Unregister' in the dropdown menu under the Options column.
How old do I have to be to volunteer?
Our warehouse shifts and mobile distributions require a minimum age of 10. Youth between the ages of 10-16 must have a guardian present.
What kind of work will volunteers do?
Tasks vary depending on the needs of our neighbors. Projects include sorting donated perishable or non-perishable food, packing food into boxes for distribution, or assembling bags for our Snack Pack program. Volunteers must be able to lift up to 20 lbs. and stand for up 2 to 3 hours at a time. Our volunteer coordinators will provide a brief orientation including safety protocols and project explanations.
What should I wear?
Closed-toe/closed-heel footwear is required. No crocs, flip flops or sandals. Our warehouse is not climate controlled, please dress according to the weather.
Warehouse Address: 5245 Old Kings Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32254
Should I volunteer if I have food allergies?
Feeding Northeast Florida asks volunteers with food allergies to use their best judgment when determining to participate in food sorting or packing shifts. We cannot guarantee an allergy-free environment and strongly advise that volunteers with severe or life-threatening food allergies do not attend food packing events. Since much of our food is generously donated by various sources, it is possible that the food has been in contact with certain food allergens.
Accessibility:
We try our best to make accommodations to make the volunteering experience as accessible as possible. Please feel free to call ahead with any questions about accommodations we can arrange for you. Or you can speak with the Volunteer Manager before your shift.
How do I track my hours?
By checking in at our kiosk upon arrival, our volunteer management site will log your volunteer hours. The Volunteer Coordinators or Volunteer Manager can sign letterheads and hour-tracking logs at the end of each shift.
How can I print out and share my volunteer hours?
You can export your hours from the Track Hours tab in your volunteer profile, or you can download your volunteer resume that highlights your volunteer activity for a selected date range. This print-out includes graphs showing volunteer hours by month and what types of volunteer work has been done.
Do you accept matching grants from my company for volunteer work?
Yes! Remind your volunteers to take advantage of matching-grants or gifts their organization offers.
