Volunteer at The Food Bank: Frequently Asked Questions

Woman in purple mask picks up a cardboard box from a stack, text to left of her reads Smaller Groups, Same Big Impact

“I think it’s important that we all serve the community in whatever way that we can. I really like all the people at the Food Bank, and it feels purposeful to see the direct impact that our work has done for the community.”  -Food Bank Volunteer

“I’ve always liked helping people and this looked like a great way to help. I don’t remember much about my first-time volunteering; I can barely remember what I had for dinner yesterday. But I do remember I enjoyed the experience and started attending every company Food Bank event.”  -20-yearlong Food Bank Volunteer

“Every hour I volunteer at the Food Bank is rewarding because I’m choosing to help feed the adults and children in our county. I do believe all people could use a ‘Hand Up’ sometimes to lift their spirits. I feel blessed and I love to bless others.”  -Food Bank Volunteer

“I love the science and history of food … you might call me obsessed. The Food Bank has long been an organization I support. I think everybody is entitled to food, warmth and happiness, and if I can provide even a bit of that by contributing my time and efforts, especially in an area that I have some expertise, then I can’t not do that.”  -Food Bank Volunteer

“I would tell everyone who can, come to the Food Bank firsthand and see what it’s all about. You will be amazed how much food comes and goes out of the Food Bank. There are several different jobs we do, so each week is something different. The people that I volunteer with are awesome and so is our Food Bank Volunteer Coordinator.”  -Food Bank Volunteer

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Our online system makes it easy to find and sign up for opportunities to make a difference in local communities — and we’ve included additional details and answers to common questions below.

So whether you’re an individual supporter or represent a large group, there are a host of opportunities to help bring us closer to a future where no one goes hungry — no matter where we live, where we’re from, or the color of our skin!

View Opportunities

Scheduled Closings

  • Monday, September 2, 2024 – Labor Day
  • Thursday/Friday, November 28 & 29, 2024 – Thanksgiving Holiday
  • Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday, December 24, 25 & 26, 2024 – Christmas Holiday
  • Wednesday, January 1, 2025 – New Year’s Day
  • Monday, January 20, 2025 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Friday, January 31, 2025 — Fifth Friday (locations close at noon)
  • Monday, May 26, 2025 — Memorial Day
  • Friday, May 30, 2025 — Fifth Friday (locations close at noon)
  • Thursday, June 19, 2025 — Juneteenth Holiday
  • Friday/Monday, July 4 & 7, 2025 — Independence Day
  • Friday, August 29, 2025 — Fifth Friday (locations close at noon)
  • Monday, September 1, 2025 — Labor Day
  • Friday, October 31, 2025  — Fifth Friday (locations close at noon)
  • Thursday/Friday, November 27 & 28, 2025 — Thanksgiving Holiday
  • Wednesday/Thursday/Friday, December 24, 25 & 26, 2025 — Christmas Holiday
  • Thursday, January 1, 2026 — New Year’s Day

Important Note for Required Service

The Food Bank is only able to support attorney-recommended and/or court-ordered community service for individuals charged with minor traffic violations, excluding DUIs or DWIs. We cannot accept service requirements for any other charges — and all community service requests must be reviewed and approved prior to volunteering with us.

Email the Volunteer Coordinator at your desired location to begin the review process (contact info below). The Food Bank cannot verify volunteer hours for community service unless it has been reviewed and approved prior to the shift.

Frequently Asked Questions

All volunteers must register online. Registering online is the same as reading and signing the paper Volunteer Information Form we used before. Now, this step does not delay starting the volunteer project by taking up time that could be used to feed neighbors in need!

  • The Food Bank’s Raleigh Branch is located at 1924 Capital Blvd. Please park near the blue volunteer entrance located at the northern side of the building, facing Crabtree Blvd (or the left-hand side when facing the building from Capital Blvd). Volunteers can check-in in the Volunteer Lobby.
  • The Food Bank’s Durham Branch is located at 2700 Angier Avenue, Suite A Durham, NC 27703
  • The Food Bank’s Greenville Branch is located at 1712 Union Street Greenville, NC 27834
  • The Food Bank’s Wilmington Branch is located at 1314 Marstellar Street Wilmington, NC 28401
  • The Food Bank’s Sandhills Branch is located at 195 Sandy Avenue Southern Pines, NC 28387
  • The Food Bank’s New Bern Branch is located at 1702 Red Robin Lane New Bern, NC 28562

Our projects vary based on what is in the warehouse at the time. Generally, you will be determining whether food is safe or unsafe and then putting it in family-sized containers. Projects typically include building food boxes, sorting and repackaging of produce, groceries, bulk dry items like pasta or rice, or labeling food containers.

Yes. This will be addressed at your onsite orientation on the day you volunteer. As a general rule, we recommend people leave valuables locked inside their vehicle for the session.

To allow for effective instructions and full sessions, we ask all group and individual volunteers to arrive by the beginning of your session and to stay until the end of the session.

The health and safety of our community and the broader foodstream is our top priority. In addition to regular sanitation cycles and deep-cleaning in our facilities, we require all volunteers to wash their hands upon entering a Food Bank location, in advance of beginning a project.

If you are feeling sick, or displaying any symptoms of illness, please stay home. We rely on volunteer power to get the job done, but we need you to be healthy and operating at 100% to make that happen! Please do not put yourself or anyone else at risk by coming to volunteer when sick. If you are displaying signs of illness while on site at the Food Bank, one of our team members will ask you to return home.

Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Volunteers 12 years and older are welcome to volunteer during our regular sessions. We offer specific ‘Kids Day’ opportunities for volunteers who are 5-11 years old. Please see your location’s calendar for details. Note that volunteer opportunities take place in a warehouse setting that is not safe for infants or toddlers.

General volunteer opportunities take place in a warehouse setting that is not safe for infants or toddlers. We offer specific ‘Kids Day’ opportunities for volunteers who are 5-11 years old. Please see your location’s calendar for details.

The Food Bank recommends a ratio of 1 chaperone: 5 youth volunteers. Please note that these chaperones do count towards your total number of reserved volunteer spots.

Chaperones are required to remain with their volunteers throughout the session and follow all dress and safety guidelines for participation in the project.

Yes, you can. Please bring your documents to the session. Alternatively, you can use your personal volunteer portal to print out your hours.

The Food Bank is only able to support attorney-recommended and/or court-ordered community service for individuals charged with minor traffic violations, excluding DUIs or DWIs. We cannot accept service requirements for any other charges — and all community service requests must be reviewed and approved prior to volunteering with us.

Email the Volunteer Coordinator at your desired location to begin the review process (see contact info below). The Food Bank cannot verify volunteer hours for community service unless it has been reviewed and approved prior to the shift.

The Food Bank has a Social Media Ambassador program for folks who want to make a difference, virtually. Ambassadors use their personal social media to help raise awareness about food insecurity, and build support for the Food Bank’s work. Ambassadors receive a special monthly email with with Food Bank news, links, and suggested posts, which they can copy/paste or customize. Learn more at foodbankcenc.org/sma

First, double check this webpage to see if your question is already addressed. If not, below this FAQ section you will find Volunteer Coordinator contact information for each Branch.  Our team spends most of their time away from their desks working with volunteers, so please have patience as they work to respond.

Have a question that’s not addressed above? Need to connect regarding opportunities for larger groups? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Volunteer Team!

Durham:
Chris Stone | cstone@foodbankcenc.org | 919-956-2513 – Option 4 for Volunteer Engagement

Raleigh:
Zach Perry |  zperry@foodbankcenc.org | 919-875-0707 – Option 4 for Volunteer Engagement

Greenville:
Miyah Randall | drandall@foodbankcenc.org | 252-752-4996 – Option 4 for Volunteer Engagement

Sandhills:
Leah Steffens | lsteffens@foodbankcenc.org | 910-692-5959 – Option 4 for Volunteer Engagement

New Bern:
Jenna Bustamante | jbustamante@foodbankcenc.org | 252-577-1912 – Option 4 for Volunteer Engagement

Wilmington:
Brittany Long | blong@foodbankcenc.org | 910-251-1465 – Option 4 for Volunteer Engagement

There are a host of ways to make a difference right now in the fight to end hunger. If you’re able, please take a minute to lend your time, your voice, or your financial support as we write the Food Bank’s next chapter together!

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