Why We Need Volunteers
Feed the Pack Food Pantry is a student-run organization that depends on the dedication and effort of volunteers to keep the pantry open and running smoothly. We do not have full-time, paid staff that work in the pantry, so we rely on volunteers to carry out our mission. We are a resource for the entire NC State community, and we would love for the entire NC State community to get involved – students, staff, and faculty are all welcome (and encouraged!) to volunteer with Feed the Pack!
Getting Connected as a Volunteer
We are so glad that you are interested in volunteering with Feed the Pack! There are two main ways that you can get involved with Feed the Pack: Individual Volunteering and Group Volunteering. The process to get connected and the expectations for these two options are different, so read below for more information!
This option is a semester-long commitment (Fall, Spring, or Summer), and we ask that each volunteer commit to a minimum of 10 hours of volunteer service with us over the course of the semester. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and must be directly connected to NC State University either as a student, staff, or faculty member. Individual Volunteers must complete our online volunteer training module (~45 minutes) prior to registering for volunteer shifts. To get connected as an individual volunteer and gain access to the online volunteer training module, please complete the Volunteer Interest Form linked below and a member of our team will be in touch.
Individual volunteers can help with a number of tasks including, but not limited to: repackaging bulk produce donations, preparing the pantry for the upcoming week, opening the pantry each day, assisting patrons as they shop, weighing and logging patrons’ food, restocking shelves, processing and shelving donations as they arrive, and keeping the pantry clean. Shifts are either 1 or 2 hours in duration. Specifics on shift times, duties during each shift, etc. will be provided in the online training materials.
Group volunteering is another great way to get involved with Feed the Pack! Group volunteer shifts occur on Mondays from 10am-12pm each week and are a one-time commitment. Feed the Pack can accommodate groups of 5-6 people at each group volunteer shift on Mondays. Groups are responsible for having 5-6 people at their shift, so we ask that groups internally confirm which 5-6 people have committed to the shift prior to reaching out to us and registering for a group volunteer shift. Volunteer groups will always have at least one member of the Feed the Pack leadership team in the pantry with them to provide instruction, so we do not require volunteer groups to complete our online volunteer training module.
For groups larger than 5-6, please reach out to our volunteer email for additional opportunities, such as deep cleaning shifts.
If you are interested in volunteering as a group with the pantry, please contact feedthepackvolunteer@ncsu.edu by the 15th of the month prior to the month during which you want to volunteer. (e.g. if you wish to volunteer on a Monday in March, you must contact feedthepackvolunteer@ncsu.edu no later than February 15th.)
Please keep in mind that groups cannot consist of more than 5-6 volunteers due to the pantry’s space capacity and the amount of work to be accomplished at each shift. Group volunteering opportunities for larger groups are subject to availability.
Volunteer Interest Form
To get connected with Feed the Pack as an individual volunteer, please fill out the Volunteer Interest Form, and we will send you more information regarding the online volunteer training module. (If you are interested in group volunteering, please see the instructions listed above for reserving a group volunteer shift.) We hope to see you in the pantry soon!
After we have reached a certain number of volunteers for the semester, the Volunteer Interest Form is closed. If you find that the Volunteer Interest Form is no longer accepting new responses, please check back again at the end of the current semester when we start accepting volunteers for the next semester (Fall, Spring, Summer). If you are still interested in volunteering with us this semester, you can check out our group volunteering opportunities. If you have any other questions, you can also contact feedthepackvolunteer@ncsu.edu.