It’s an understatement just how important volunteers are here at Food Bank of the Albemarle.
Volunteers give their time to help out in so many ways, whether they are packing boxes, stocking our food pantry, or even driving our delivery trucks to distributions. Without a steady stream of volunteers, the challenge of providing food across the 15 counties in Northeastern NC that we serve would be even greater.
If you’re interested in giving back through volunteer service this summer, here are some of the many ways we use your talents:
- Packing Senior Food Boxes – each month we pack nearly 3,000 boxes of food for seniors, which is distributed across our service area. These boxes go to our neighbors 65+ and older, who often live alone and on a fixed income. They tell us that the food from these boxes as well as fresh produce and other pantry staples are a big help each month, and that they worry less about spending on food.
- Food Sorting – when communities hold food drives, the food that is collected still needs to be sorted to ensure it’s in good condition and discard anything out of date. Volunteers are key to helping us get this product out to our neighbors!
- Food Pantry – The Food Bank’s Neighborhood Hub pantry is a staple of the community. In 2023, we launched an all new version of the pantry which allowed our neighbors to come in and “shop” for whatever items they wanted to take. Our pantry volunteers help us stock the shelves in advance of distribution days, assist neighbors with shopping, and overall help us keep the Hub in good running order.
- Mobile Food Pantries – The Food Bank partners with over 100 pantries across our region, but in areas where there isn’t a fixed pantry, we have a Mobile Market ready to go! Volunteers at these mobile pantries help with setup, distribution, and clean up during the distribution.
- Administrative – Working in the warehouse isn’t for everyone. Do you have skills you’d like to utilize in the office? We always need volunteers to help out at our reception desk, answering calls and directing guests. Have skills with filing or general office work? Our Programs team always needs some help a variety of tasks.
Overall, there are many ways to lend a hand. Our volunteers often donate both their time and monetary gifts because they believe in our mission of providing food and resources to the people of Northeastern North Carolina who are in need.
