Volunteer
In 2024, 1,211 community members volunteered 25,816 hours at Helena Food Share, which is equivalent to more than 12 full-time staff positions. Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. We offer opportunities for individuals with diverse interests and abilities. We greatly appreciate our volunteers for their generous contributions of time, energy, and smiles, ensuring that our neighbors have access to food when they need it, while treating everyone with dignity and respect.
Types of Opportunities
If you’d like to join this amazing group, Helena Food Share offers opportunities for individuals to volunteer weekly, for a one-time event, or as on-call volunteers. We also provide group opportunities for families, businesses, and organizations. Volunteers working at our facility must be 16 or older. Some of the group activities are appropriate for those younger than 16. We will run a basic background check on individuals for violent or sexual offenses before their first volunteer shift. Please take a moment to explore the options below and submit an application form to tell us about yourself and to indicate the type of volunteer opportunity you prefer.
Weekly Shift Opportunities:
Come once a week to fill a 3-hour shift in our market, warehouse, kitchen, admin office, or assist drivers with grocery rescue.
- Welcome Station: greeting customers, checking them in, and helping sign up new customers
afternoon or evening shifts - Boxing Station: assist customers box and bag groceries afternoon or evening shifts
- Market Assistant: stocking Shelves in the Market
morning, afternoon, or evening shifts - Repackaging/Sorting: prepping food in the kitchen for distribution in the Market
morning or afternoon shifts - Kitchen Assistant: preparing meals for Market distribution
mornings or afternoon shifts - Donation Door & Sorting: accepting food donations and sorting food in categories
morning, afternoon, or evening shifts - Grocery Rescue: Join our team of drivers and pick up food from local grocery stores.
early and mid-morning shifts - Garden Assistant: planting, watering, weeding, and harvesting
mornings or afternoon shifts during the growing season - Admin Support: clerical, data entry, or phone call reminders
mornings or afternoon shifts
On-Call or Teaching Opportunities:
If you are not able to commit to a weekly shift, we have periodic openings where we can use your help.
- On-Call Market duties: support is needed in the Market, warehouse, and kitchen when weekly volunteers are on vacation or sick.
- Food Demo or Cooking/Nutrition Classes: Lead a cooking demonstration in the Market or offer a class in our Community Room kitchen
- Food Drives: supporting food drives at local stores by asking patrons if they want to donate and putting food in creates
- Fundraising, Outreach or Events: attending fundraising events or resource fairs to support the activity
- Home Deliveries: delivering food to home-bound customers
requires the use of your personal vehicle - Admin Support: office support for special projects
- Garden Assistant: planting, watering, weeding, and harvesting
mornings or afternoons during the growing season
Community Service:
Please use the Community Service application below if you are volunteering to fulfill any type of Community Service.
- We welcome volunteer applicants over the age of 16 for court-mandated, school-required, or other types of community service.
- If Community Service is related to charges of violence or sexual misconduct, we cannot accommodate your request.
- Every shift must be scheduled in advance. We are unable to accommodate walk-ins.
- If you miss more than 1 scheduled shift without notice. your community service will end.
- Please be prepared when volunteering, with your hours verification paperwork & contact information, if it’s required for your service.
Group Opportunities at Helena Food Share
For anyone 16 years or older, when available
- Repackaging bulk food
- Building food boxes
- Building Kid Packs
- Building Emergency Food Packs
- Tending the HFS Garden
- Facility Support – inside and outside projects available
Group Opportunities for Special Events
For anyone 16 years or older, when available
- Customer Lot Party in June
- Turkey Challenge in November
- Holiday Meal Share in Nov & Dec
For anyone under 16, please have an adult join you in these activities
- Empty Bowls event in April – before and during the event
- Symphony Under the Stars in July
- HFS Food drives throughout the year
Family Opportunities
Depending on the age of your family members, these age-appropriate opportunities may be a fun way for the whole family to support our neighbors who need food support.
- Host a food drive in your neighborhood
- Distribute flyers and posters for HFS
- Prepare birthday party bags
- Decorate food boxes for seniors
- Flatten/stack recycled plastic grocery bags
- Our Family Volunteer Resource Guide lists other fun activities to involve the whole family in the circle of giving in our community.
Service Learning or Internships
Contact us by email at [email protected], or call 406-443-3663, ext 106.to share your ideas for an experiential learning project at Helena Food Share. We cannot guarantee an opportunity, but we welcome your ideas.
How to Sign Up to Volunteer
- Step 1 – Come for a tour, held each Wednesday at 11:30.
You’ll learn about our programs, opportunities, and volunteer expectations.
Come through the Admin Office entrance, and we’ll show you around.
Note: This step is not required for group volunteers. - Step 2 – Review the types of volunteer opportunities for Individual & Group activities in the drop-down windows above.
- Step 3 – Submit your application using one of the links below.
- Step 4 – Once your application is received, we’ll notify you about the activities and times available.
- Step 5 – Review our Volunteer Manual before you arrive.
- Questions? Review our FAQ’s below, send us an email at [email protected], or call 406-443-3663, ext 106.
Submit Your Application
Please select the button below for the type of volunteer opportunity you are interested in. Download and print the corresponding application. After completing the application, kindly drop it off at the Helena Food Share Admin Office located at 1280 Boulder Ave.
Frequently Asked Questions
For shifts during our regular operating hours, volunteers must be 16 years or older. Children between the ages of 12 and 15 may volunteer after hours for group projects inside the building with an adult supervisor. Group outdoor or off-site activities are open to any age with appropriate supervision.
Closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothing. If you are working in the kitchen, you are required to wear gloves that we provide and a hair net or hat. Sleeveless shirts are not allowed. Dress in layers for all weather.
Staff and volunteers are asked not to park in the HFS parking lot. These spaces are reserved for customers and anyone who needs accessible parking. There is plenty of on-street parking on Boulder, Lyndale, and Helena Avenues. There is additional parking on Gallatin Ave. (Enter by the Vanilla Bean and drive west.)
All volunteers are asked to enter the building through the volunteer entrance, unless you are directed otherwise.
All volunteers are asked to enter the door on the north side of the building, next to the truck loading dock. Once you enter, go straight ahead to the volunteer office, where you will check in for your shift. One exception is for volunteers doing a Kid Pack or Emergency Pack build in the warehouse. You will enter through the Food Donations door along Boulder Ave. Staff will let you know about this or any other exceptions.
Review the Volunteer Manual to learn more about the types of available opportunities and the requirements. If you are still unsure, please contact our Volunteer Manager at 406-443-3663, x106.
All volunteers will sign in with their email at the volunteer desk kiosk. Be sure to sign out the same way at the end of your shift. This helps us track the number of hours for each shift and evaluate our volunteer needs.
If you cannot attend your shift, please contact the Volunteer Manager as soon as possible. For planned absence, we ask that you provide a minimum of 24-hours notice and note your upcoming absence on our volunteer schedule whiteboard. If you are sick or have an unplanned absence, please text 406-461-8152 as soon as possible.
Yes, a staff member will provide an overview of your job and the facility. You will then be paired with staff or an experienced volunteer during your first shift.
Our Volunteer Room has coat hooks and lockers to place your personal items. This is the room you will start each shift with updates from staff. There is also space to take a break here where there is plenty of coffee, tea, and other beverages for your break. There are also often tasty treats.
Staff will contact you about shifts and other essential volunteer details via the Helena Food Share business phone at 406-443-3663, the HFS volunteer mobile phone at 406-461-8152, or by email at [email protected]. You can contact us by any of these methods. You may also receive emails through our CRM software, @bloomerang.com.
On-call, group, and family activities are available that do not require a regular shift. Please consider one of these opportunities. They are outlined in our Volunteer Manual.
Send an email to [email protected] or call 406-443-3663, ext 106 with any questions.
