Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are the heart of Ballard Food Bank

Every month more than 500 volunteers donate 3,700+ hours of service. They recover and sort food, stock shelves, and help clients shop.

New Volunteers

The first step to becoming a Ballard Food Bank volunteer is to complete our volunteer interest form to tell us about your availability and interests. Once you submit the form, you’ll receive an email with the next steps to sign up for an orientation and training shift!

Please note that our volunteers on-site need to be at least 14 years old. All 14- and 15-year-olds must come to orientation with a parent/guardian so we can make sure it’s a good fit for everyone. 16 years old and up can come on their own!

We recommend committing to a regularly scheduled shift. The best way to get to know the food bank and the different positions and tasks is to consistently spend several hours a week volunteering. Please be flexible and willing to do different tasks over the course of your shift to help us meet our most urgent needs!

  • Mondays, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

  • Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM

  • Wednesdays, 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • It’s important for safety - and for the experience of volunteers and guests alike - that all new volunteers complete an orientation before their first volunteer shift.

  • The majority of our volunteer shifts are available during the following blocks of time:

    Mondays, 8AM-4PM, Tues/Thursday 8AM-7PM, Wednesdays 8AM-2PM.

  • We have limited shifts on Friday, Saturday & Sunday between 8AM and 1PM. Shifts may fill up quickly and there are fewer staff and other volunteers around, so this is a better option once you are already familiar with volunteering here.

  • You should have received an email with information on next steps when you submitted the volunteer interest form. Please check your junk folder and make sure you are able to receive emails from us. Reach out to volunteer@ballardfoodbank.org if you can’t find the email.

Volunteer At Home or Offsite

Looking for a fun and helpful way to volunteer at home or in your workplace? Need a way to engage a group of children or co-workers to give back? Click here to learn more about how you can get involved right away!