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Volunteer Opportunities

Call Center – Participant Services – Silver Spring
Where:

12301 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring 20904

When:

Wednesdays: 9am-12:30pm
Wednesdays: 12:30-4pm
Thursdays: 9am-12:30pm
Thursdays: 12:30 – 4pm
Fridays: 9am-12:30pm
Fridays: 12:30-4pm

Time:

See above

What:

This opportunity takes place in-person at our Silver Spring location.

Volunteers support our referral program which enables our participants to receive food from us and so much more!

Description
These volunteers are highly trained to be able to manage any call. Volunteers answer our main phone number and you 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 use our Salesforce database for scheduling our participants and entering agency referrals.

Skills and Qualifications
• Volunteers must be comfortable speaking on the phone and using a computer.
• Interested candidates should friendly and possess strong customer service skills and be able to problem solve and multi-task in a fast-paced office environment.
• Volunteers will assist people from a diverse background.
• We are looking for volunteers that can make a regular weekly commitment for at least 6 months to a year.
• Volunteers must be 18 or older.
• Bi-lingual skills are a plus but not required.
• This opportunity is not open to people needing to complete service hours.

Training
Volunteers will complete an in-person training over 5 consecutive days.

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CFR Food Runner
Where:

Around Montgomery County

When:

Various dates

Time:

Various times

What:

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.

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 Tricia Thomas: tricia@mannafood.org

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Community Box Packing – Gaithersburg
Where:

9311 Gaither Rd. Gaithersburg, MD 20877

When:

Mondays, 1:30-3pm – volunteers must be 16 or older
Weeknights, 6-7:30pm – volunteers must be 11 or older
Saturdays, 9-10:30am – volunteers must be 11 or older

Time:

See above

What:

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.
Volunteers must be 16 or older for the 1:30-3pm shift.
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.

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Market Volunteer Backup – Silver Spring
Where:

12301 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904

When:

Tuesdays, 8:30-12:30pm
Thursdays, 8:30-12:00pm
Thursdays, 12:30-3pm
Fridays, 9:30-12pm
Fridays, 12:30-3pm

Time:

See above

What:

Market Distribution
We are looking for volunteers that can serve as a back-up volunteers. Most of our Market 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. Volunteers will assist with food distribution at our choice distribution Market.

Activities
• Direct participants through the Market and assist them to their cars if needed
• Load boxes of food into carts
• Light 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
• Volunteers communicate directly with a diverse population and must be courteous, patient, and understanding of each participant’s needs.
• Must 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 and easily transition between many tasks throughout the day with minimal instruction.

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Satellite Food Distribution
Where:

Glenmont – Tuesdays, 2:30-6pm
Gaithersburg – Tuesdays, 4:30-7pm
Clifton Park Silver Spring – Wednesdays, 3:30-7pm
Glenmont – Thursdays, 1:30-5pm
Germantown – Thursdays, 1:30-5pm
Gaithersburg – Thursdays, 4:30-7pm

When:

See above

Time:

See above

What:

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. 

Student Service Learning:  Students can earn service hours

Training: Provided onsite

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Warehouse Volunteer – Gaithersburg
Where:

9311 Gaither Rd. Gaithersburg, MD 20877

When:

Monday-Friday

Time:

9-12pm

What:

Please know most of our summer shifts have been filled.

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 participants & volunteers, and staff, and easily transition between many tasks throughout the day with minimal instruction. 

Training:  Volunteers will receive training on first day.

Registration:

  • Advanced registration is required.
  • Due to the nature of our operations we have a limited number of spaces available each day and may filled several weeks in advance.
  • Click the Register button to express interest in this opportunity.
  • You must register every time you volunteer. We do not accept walk-in volunteers due the nature of our daily operations
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