Opportunities From: Pike Market Senior Center & Food Bank

Grocery Distribution volunteers are essential to one of the Pike Market Food Bank's core programs, which serves neighbors from the Seattle area every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Volunteers play a crucial role in creating a welcoming, organized, and efficient experience for clients as they receive their groceries.

On the Line:

Greet and welcome clients with warmth, creating an inclusive and dignified environment.

Guide clients through the grocery line, packing their bags while attentively explaining options and helping them select items based on their preferences.

Connect with clients from diverse backgrounds, including those who may speak a different language, with patience and understanding.

As a Runner:

Support staff and volunteers on the grocery line by ensuring the line is stocked with items as needed.

Open boxes, bags, and containers to allow easy access for line volunteers.

Keep pathways clear of boxes, plastic, and crates to maintain a safe working environment.

Restock dry goods and other essentials on the distribution line.

General Duties:

Uphold grocery distribution guidelines and food safety practices at all times.

Assist clients in carrying their grocery bags to the repacking tables or nearby locations, as needed.

Work in a fast-paced environment that can be noisy and busy, while maintaining a positive and calm demeanor.

Friendly and approachable, with a desire to help individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Comfortable in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

Physically able to stand for extended periods and lift grocery bags or items weighing up to 25 lbs.

Willing to follow food safety and operational guidelines.

Language Skills (Not required but a great bonus) Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, and more!

Open to communicating and collaborating with staff, volunteers, and clients

Directly impact the community by helping neighbors access nutritious food.

Gain experience working in a client-facing, fast-paced environment.

Build connections with a diverse group of people.

Be part of a supportive and inclusive team dedicated to fighting food insecurity.

DoorDash is a vital extension of our home delivery program, helping us reach neighbors who are unable to visit the food bank. Each week, approximately 200 DoorDash delivery bags are packed and distributed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Volunteers in this role support both the packing and distribution process, ensuring clients receive fresh, nutritious food.

Pack DoorDash bags with a curated selection of produce, protein, and dry goods.

Follow food safety guidelines to ensure quality control of all items, especially perishable produce.

Transport packed bags to the designated pick-up location using a cart.

Assist DoorDash drivers by confirming pick-up numbers and helping load bags into their vehicles.

Work closely with staff to ensure smooth and accurate distribution.

On Mondays, help pack dry goods for the week’s DoorDash deliveries.

Keep the workspace clean and organized during and after shifts.

Attention to detail and commitment to food safety practices.

Comfortable lifting and carrying bags up to 25 lbs.

Strong communication skills to interact with staff and DoorDash drivers.

Ability to work collaboratively and follow instructions.

Long-term volunteers may receive pallet jack training.

Be part of a program that expands food access to homebound neighbors.

Opportunities for warehouse and equipment training.

Engage in meaningful community support and make a tangible impact.

This role is perfect for volunteers who enjoy logistics, working with others, and supporting the well-being of our community members. Your help ensures that essential food items are delivered safely and efficiently!

Location: Pike Market Food Bank
Shift: Fridays, 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Our Home Delivery Volunteers help bring nutritious food to our homebound neighbors in and around Pike Place Market. Each Friday, we will deliver 100 - 125 bags of groceries on foot and through driving routes, providing essential support and building lasting relationships with clients on your route. Volunteers play a key role in ensuring that our community members receive the food they need with dignity and respect.

Use your own vehicle to transport up to 20 grocery bags for each of your two total routes from the food bank to buildings in the downtown area. 

Deliver grocery bags (approximately 15-25 lbs each) to a set list of clients on a designated route. 

Pack produce and perishable items in the bags on the morning of the delivery, paying close attention to dietary needs such as gluten-free, low-sodium, and vegan requirements.

Build connections with clients on your route, providing a friendly, reliable presence they can count on.

Report updates about routes or client needs to the Food Access Coordinator, Kenzie, ensuring clients receive appropriate support.

Maintain punctuality and consistency to support the reliability of our delivery program.

Own a vehicle suitable for transporting grocery bags (We’ve been able to fit 20 bags in a Mini Cooper!).

Valid driver’s license and ability to pass a background check (administered by the food bank).

Empathetic and respectful toward disabled and homebound individuals.

Passionate about supporting food access for the downtown community.

Comfortable lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs and maneuvering a loaded cart on sidewalks.

Willing to complete a background check (covered by the Pike Market Food Bank).

Initial training on your route, with guidance from a staff member.

Packing support for non-perishable items, with assistance from staff to pack perishable items on the morning of delivery.

Ongoing support, ensuring you have a reliable partner for the route if needed.

Hey there! Did you know that every Friday, the food bank delivers groceries straight to our neighbors' doors? Volunteers and staff lovingly pack around 100+ bags and personally deliver them to buildings in the Pike Place Market. It's a fantastic way to help out and put a smile on someone's face! right to our neighbors' doors. 

The Bagel Run Volunteer is a key part of our No Cook Program, ensuring fresh deli items and baked goods make their way from local businesses to our food bank clients. This daily donation pickup directly supports our mission to provide ready-to-eat food to those experiencing food insecurity. Volunteers will navigate Pike Place Market to collect, log, and organize these essential donations.

Pick up donations from multiple businesses in Pike Place Market, following established pickup procedures.

Navigate through the market efficiently in all weather conditions to ensure timely pickups.

Weighed and categorized all items upon return to the food bank, recording the data in our receiving log.

Inspect and sort donations, check expiration dates, and ensure quality under food safety guidelines.

Store items appropriately in designated areas of the food bank warehouse.

Support general food bank operations as needed after completing the bagel run, including sorting, double bagging, prep work, and assisting other programs.

Our Meals Program team at the Pike Market Senior Center works hard to serve breakfast and lunch 7 days a week, providing thousands of delicious and nutritious meals every month. While this fully-staffed team does not need volunteer support for meal preparation or service, there are occasional volunteering opportunities that require a valid food handler's permit.

From serving refreshments and dessert during special events to preparing sack lunches for field trips, there are a few different ways that volunteers can support Senior Center activities through food. Let's discuss what opportunities work best for you!

 Notice: Please Do Not Sign up for a shift without checking in with the Volunteer Coordinator. This is for groups who are approved to independently sign up. Contact us at volunteers@pmsc-dtfb.org to join us!

 Are you looking to make a tangible difference in your community? Join us as a friendly and compassionate Grocery Distribution Volunteer, helping neighbors in the Seattle area access nutritious food in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Grocery Distribution volunteers are essential to one of the Pike Market Food Bank's core programs, which serves neighbors from the Seattle area every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Volunteers play a crucial role in creating a welcoming, organized, and efficient experience for clients as they receive their groceries. We invite teams of up to 5 people to join us. Please note the group size for this particular opportunity is inflexible due to space constraints.

On the Line:

Greet and welcome clients with warmth, creating an inclusive and dignified environment.

Guide clients through the grocery line, packing their bags while attentively explaining options and helping them select items based on their preferences.

Connect with clients from diverse backgrounds, including those who may speak a different language, with patience and understanding.

As a Runner:

Support staff and volunteers on the grocery line by ensuring the line is stocked with items as needed.

Open boxes, bags, and containers to allow easy access for line volunteers.

Keep pathways clear of boxes, plastic, and crates to maintain a safe working environment.

Restock dry goods and other essentials on the distribution line.

General Duties:

Uphold grocery distribution guidelines and food safety practices at all times.

Assist clients in carrying their grocery bags to the repacking tables or nearby locations, as needed.

Work in a fast-paced environment that can be noisy and busy, while maintaining a positive and calm demeanor.

Friendly and approachable, with a desire to help individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Comfortable in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

Physically able to stand for extended periods and lift grocery bags or items weighing up to 25 lbs.

Willing to follow food safety and operational guidelines.

Open to communicating and collaborating with staff, volunteers, and clients.

Star Qualities (not required but are very helpful):

tbd.