We greatly appreciate your support!

Become a Volunteer

Loaves & Fishes relies on the support of 125 volunteers each week to help us inspect, sort, pack, and give out fresh produce, meat, bread, and shelf-stable commodity items. Shifts are offered six days each week and range in length from one to four hours. Volunteers work alongside staff members, and training is provided at the start of each shift, so no prior experience is needed for any of our jobs.

Please note that currently, we are unable to schedule group reservations and are not accepting court-ordered community service applications.

To view full job descriptions, shift times, physical requirements, COVID protocols, and age minimums, please visit our Volunteer Hub site: https://cvilleloavesandfishes.volunteerhub.com.

The Volunteer Hub will only show you available shifts. If you do not see any volunteer opportunities offered on a Monday through Saturday (we are always closed on Sundays) or if the entire calendar is blank and you see the message “There are no events at this time.” it means all volunteer opportunities are currently filled. Please check back often, as we do get cancellations throughout the month.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Hub

Getting Food to Clients

Loaves & Fishes distributes food to clients four times a week, on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, Thursday evenings, and Saturday mornings. Distributions are done in the parking lot, with groceries delivered to clients in their cars.

Volunteers are used as:

Cart Packers

Volunteers load various grocery items into carts for delivery to clients in the parking lot.

The items you will load into the cart vary in weight from light (single cans/jars, boxes of cereal, etc.) to moderate (gallons of milk or 10-pound bags of produce) to heavy (15–30-pound bags/boxes of commodities or produce).
You will need to lift items from all levels of our 3-shelf carts and pallets of varying heights (so you will be both reaching high and bending low).
You will be on your feet on a concrete floor for the duration of the shift.
You will work alongside a small group of other volunteers and staff members.
Volunteers must be 17 years or older.

Cart Runners

Cart Runners deliver fully loaded grocery carts to clients’ cars in the parking lot and sanitize carts when they are returned.

Fully loaded carts typically weigh between 150-175 pounds. Clients load their own groceries into their cars, but some may need assistance with heavy items.
You will be in the parking lot and on your feet for the shift.
You will work alongside a small group of other volunteers and staff members.
Volunteers must be 17 years or older.

Preparing Food for Clients

Before clients receive food during a distribution, all food must be inspected, sorted and packed.

Volunteers are used as:

Produce Assistants

Produce Assistants work alongside trained staff to inspect, sort and pack produce. This is a great job for individuals with a basic familiarity of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and an appreciation for a healthy lifestyle through nutritious eating.

Produce sorting requires lifting and moving boxes of produce of varying weights. Full produce bags weigh approximately 10-15 pounds that you must load onto 3-shelf racks (so you will be both lifting high and bending low).
You will be on your feet for the duration of the shift.
You will be working alongside a small group of other volunteers and staff members. Maintaining a 6’ workspace will not always be possible, making this an ideal position for a COVID-19-vaccinated volunteer.
Volunteers must be 18 years or older.

Bread Sorters

Bread Sorters follow guidelines to inspect for freshness organize and rack donated bread and bakery items. This is a great job for process-oriented volunteers who enjoy organization and working within a well-defined system.

Light but repetitive lifting and bending is required for this job.
You will be on your feet on a concrete floor for the duration of the shift.
You will be working alongside a small group of other volunteers and staff members. Maintaining a 6’ workspace will not always be possible, making this an ideal position for a COVID-19-vaccinated volunteer.
Volunteers must be 17 years or older.

Meat Sorters

Meat Baggers inspect, sort and bag assorted frozen meat.

Light but repetitive lifting and bending is required for this job.
Fully loaded meat bags weigh approximately 10-15 pounds.
You will be on your feet on a concrete floor for the duration of the shift.
You will be working alongside a small group of other volunteers and staff members. Maintaining a 6’ workspace will not always be possible, making this an ideal position for a COVID-19-vaccinated volunteer.
Volunteers must be 18 years or older.

USDA Bag Packers

USDA Bag Packers double bag, pack, and rack USDA canned and dried commodity foods.

Full commodity bags weigh approximately 20 pounds that you must load onto 3-shelf racks (so you will be both lifting high and bending low).
You will be on your feet on a concrete floor for the duration of the shift.
You will be working alongside a small group of other volunteers and staff members. Maintaining a 6’ workspace will not always be possible, making this an ideal position for a COVID-19 vaccinated volunteer.
Volunteers must be 16 years or older.

Dairy/Deli Sorters

Dairy/Deli Sorters follow guidelines to inspect for freshness, organize by date and stock dairy and deli items into appropriate coolers. This is a great job for detail-oriented volunteers who enjoy order and organization.

Physical Requirements and Age Restrictions

Light but repetitive lifting and bending are required for this job.
You will be on your feet on a concrete floor for the duration of the shift.
You will be working alongside a small group of other volunteers and/or staff members. Maintaining a 6’ workspace will not always be possible, making this an ideal position for a COVID-19-vaccinated volunteer.
Volunteers must be 18 years or older.

Planning for a Successful Shift

Thoroughly review the Volunteer Handbook.
Closed-toed shoes are required. We will have to send home anyone wearing sandals or flip-flops.
Wear clothes appropriate for warehouse work. Temperatures in the warehouse fluctuate so plan accordingly on hot and cold days. Aprons are available if desired.
Bring a reusable water bottle; we have a water cooler.
Arrive on time and not before the shift’s start time. If you arrive early, please plan to wait in the lobby while the staff finishes setting up for the shift.

When you Arrive

Park anywhere in the parking lot.
Enter the building through the rear door marked “Volunteer Entrance”.
Once inside, please sign in to the Volunteer Hub on the laptop. Please note that by signing in, you are agreeing to Loaves & Fishes’ Volunteer Waiver and Consents posted in the check-in area.
Check-in with a staff member.

For the Health and Safety of All

Please self-monitor for any symptoms of COVID-19, cold, flu or other illnesses. Please plan to stay home if you are not feeling well. You may cancel your shift in the Volunteer Hub by signing into your account and clicking on ‘My Events’ or contact the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteers@cvilleloaves.org.
Please follow all COVID-19 protocols as posted in the warehouse.

Occasional Volunteer Needs

In addition to the jobs posted on the Volunteer Hub, Loaves & Fishes occasionally needs:

Translators (Spanish, Dari, Pashto, Arabic, Nepali, Swahili)
Photographers
Recycling Helpers
Donation Sorters
Videographers & Video Editors
Social Media Specialists
Landscapers, Gardeners & Groundskeepers

If you think your personal or professional skills might benefit the food pantry, please get in touch with the Volunteer Manager, Tracy Arbaugh, at volunteers@cvilleloaves.org.

Contact Us

We would love to hear from you.

Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry
2050 Lambs Road
Charlottesville, VA 22901

434-996-7868

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Stay informed!

We send an email newsletter once or twice a month.