Volunteer Opportunities

Please know due to the amount of training required for this opportunity we are only looking for volunteers that can make a regular weekly commitment for at least 6 months to a year.

Description
Call Center volunteers are highly trained to be able to manage any call. Volunteers will learn how to direct questions from the public, assess if people qualify for our programs and delivery services, inform people of food pick up policies and location information, issue complaint logs, and direct people to other services. Volunteers will learn to use several technologies to schedule participants including our Salesforce database, Nextiva phone system, and Microsoft Teams.

Skills and Qualifications
• Excellent Communication: Proficient in verbal and written communication, able to convey information clearly and effectively.
• Active Listening: Skilled at understanding and addressing the needs and concerns of callers.
• Problem-Solving: Adept at identifying issues and providing effective solutions.
• Multitasking: Capable of handling multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Empathy and Patience: Strong ability to empathize with callers and remain patient in challenging situations.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficient in using a computer and familiar with database systems, Microsoft Teams, and basic troubleshooting.

Additional Requirements
• Volunteers must be 18 or older.
• Volunteers must be able to make a regular weekly commitment for at least 6 months to a year.
• Volunteers will complete a training over 5 consecutive days.
• Volunteers must attend monthly Call Center meeting the 3rd Wednesday of the month, 2:30-3pm.
• This opportunity is NOT open to individuals in need of service hours for Court or Student Service Learning

Preferred Skills
• Previous Call Center or Customer Service Experience
• Experience with Salesforce or other databases, Nextiva phone system, and Microsoft Teams.
• Bi-lingual skills are a plus
• Some College Experience
• Ability to bring a personal laptop into the office is ideal. Onsite computers are limited and may not available.

Current openings: (Availability subject to change)

• Mondays: 9am-12:30pm

Community Food Rescue (CFR) is the coordinated food recovery network for Montgomery County, Maryland. The network enhances the good work of businesses, individuals, and organizations already recovering and redistributing good food to people experiencing hunger. 

We are in need of Food Runners – Individuals, families and/or groups that transport donated food from the Food Donor to Recipient Organization. Food Runners are a vital part of the CFR network, transporting food donations when recipient organizations may not have the capacity to pick up food donations.

Requirements:

1. Must be 18 years old or older
2. Enroll as a Food Runner using the CFR web application (requires computer and internet access, mobile app.
3. A clean vehicle
4. Insurance on that vehicle
5. A driver’s license and good driving record
6. Time—1-3 hours per food run
7. Complete a short evaluation after each food run
8. Speak, read, and write in English
9. Ability to lift 15 lbs.
10. This opportunity is NOT open to individuals in need of service hours for Court or Student Service Learning.

Desired:

1. Smart phone with texting capabilities

Training: Will need to learn basic safe food handling and transportation practices and pass a quiz with 80% or better.

Registration:

To learn more about becoming a Food Runner click here.  For questions about Community Food Rescue/Food Runner, please contact Morgan Crull: morgan@mannafood.org

Help pack boxes of nonperishable items for Food for Families program. This is a physical task that requires bending, reaching, and lifting up to 25 lbs. Volunteers will use tape guns and box cutters.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS!
Volunteers that are younger than 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. No drop offs.
Volunteers must be 11 or older for the evening and weekend shifts.
Anyone attending the event (parents and children) must be registered for the event including completing a volunteer agreement form.

Advanced registration is required. Please know shifts are limited and fill quickly. Dates for the next month open approximately 2 weeks before the beginning of the month. We do not have opportunities for volunteers under the age of 11.

IMPORTANT: Please know Manna will not be hosting January Box Packing. February dates will open Friday, January 17th. Please know these events are very popular and quickly.

Market Distribution
Volunteers will assist with food distribution at our choice distribution Market. Volunteers must be 16 or older. We are looking for volunteers that can commit to a regular weekly schedule or serve as back up volunteers.

Activities
• Direct participants through the Market and answer questions.
• Volunteers will assist them to their cars if needed
• Shelf restocking/organizing
• Pack bags of additional food when available
• Housekeeping tasks related to the daily upkeep of the Market including breaking down boxes, taking out trash, light cleaning, sanitizing carts

Requirements
• This is a customer service focused opportunity. Volunteers communicate directly with a diverse population and must be courteous, patient, and understanding of each participant’s needs.
• Must be able to communicate calmly and effectively with participants, volunteers, and staff.
• The work is physical and you should be comfortable standing for a couple of hours; you will engage in some light to moderate lifting (up to 25 pounds) as well as bending and reaching.
• Volunteers must be able to work independently in a busy environment and easily transition between tasks throughout the day with minimal instruction.

Volunteers are needed to help distribute food to Manna participants, including setting up, checking participants in, directing traffic, loading cars.  Volunteers must be independent workers, and able to work alongside Manna staff and other community volunteers.

Volunteers: Volunteers must be 16 or older.  This is a physical activity and includes bending, reaching, and lifting up to 25 lbs in weight. This activity takes place outside, rain or shine. 

Training: Provided onsite

Volunteers are needed to help distribute food to Manna participants, including setting up, checking participants in, directing traffic, loading cars.  Volunteers must be independent workers, and able to work alongside Manna staff and other community volunteers.

Volunteers: Volunteers must be 16 or older.  This is a physical activity and includes bending, reaching, and lifting up to 25 lbs in weight. This activity takes place outside, rain or shine. 

Training: Provided onsite

Volunteers are needed to help distribute food at our USG Choice Market. This may include setting up/breaking down Market, checking participants in, guiding participants through Market and resupplying food. Volunteers must be independent workers, and able to work alongside Manna staff and other community volunteers.

Volunteers: Volunteers must be 16 or older. This is a physical activity and includes bending, reaching, and lifting up to 25 lbs in weight. This activity takes place inside.

Training: Provided onsite

We are looking for volunteers that can serve as a back-up volunteers. Most of our Warehouse volunteers are weekly regulars but are sometimes not available due to illness, vacations, etc. These back-up volunteers will help fill in from time to time.

Student Service Learning: This activity is approved for Student Service Learning (SSL) hours. Volunteers: Must be 16 or older.  This opportunity is not open to individuals currently receiving food from Manna.

Description:  These volunteers do it all! Volunteers help with all aspects of our work in the warehouse including packing and sorting fresh, frozen, and nonperishable food, distributing food to agencies, taking out trash, and sweeping floors. Tasks for the day vary depending on the needs.

The work is physical and you should be comfortable standing for a couple of hours; you may engage in some light to moderate lifting (5 – 25+ pounds) as well as bending and reaching.  Please note that our warehouse is a very busy, noisy and fast-paced volunteer environment; volunteers must be able to work independently, converse with Manna’s partners, volunteers, and staff, and easily transition between many tasks throughout the day with minimal instruction.