Any volunteer position at Food For Thought is the most important one.

We pride ourselves on having a small paid staff and one of the largest volunteer programs in Sonoma County. Five-hundred and fifty individuals strong, there are almost 100 times as many volunteers as staff!

Food Bank Clerk

Clerks staff the food bank itself in downtown Forestville. Duties include greeting clients, taking their orders, filling grocery bags both for walk-in clients and for those who are homebound and receive deliveries. Clerks also stock shelves, receive deliveries, divide sacks of bulk items to one pound bags, wash windows, sweep floors and  pitch in for any task at hand.

Time:  Tuesdays to Saturdays, 3-4 hour shifts.
Age:  16 years old minimum.
Required:  compassionate heart, ability to lift and carry full grocery bags (maximum 15 lbs. per bag), willing to work

Home Delivery Driver

Deliver groceries to clients who are homebound due to illness or lack of transportation. Pick up groceries in Forestville in your own car. We provide maps and directions. Usually four to eight stops on a route. Volunteers report an average of two hours of time per route.

Time: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons. Deliveries can be picked up anytime between 1 and 5 p.m.
Age: Over 18 years old.
Required: proof of valid driver’s license and current auto insurance, ability to lift and carry full grocery bags, friendly, dependable, on time.

Gardener

Under the direction of master gardeners, volunteers works with others maintaining and harvesting in our organic vegetable, herb and flower gardens and orchard. The garden volunteers generally enjoy a lunch break together, often with fresh greens from the garden. A fine opportunity to learn more about organic gardening as well as touching the earth and connecting with nature.

Time: Saturdays beginning at 10 a.m., at least a two hour commitment
Age: 14 years and older.
Required: physical ability to do light to heavy gardening and ability to follow directions.

Food Drive Volunteer

This is a great opportunity for those who work during the week but want to help once a month for a few hours!

Twice a month, on Saturdays, volunteers conduct food drives outside the doors of local supermarkets. Food drive volunteers offer flyers to shoppers as they enter the door, asking them to buy some extra items while they shop and then receive the donations in  bins as the shoppers exit. Read more about our food drives here.

Where: Santa Rosa, Cotati, Petaluma, Sonoma, Sebastopol, Guerneville
Time: Saturdays, 3 hour shift
Age: 16 years old and up, younger children OK with parents
Required: Friendly demeanor in public, ability to stand outdoors for two to three hours.

Donation Pickups

Use your pickup truck or van to collect donations at various locations in Sonoma County.

Time: Often on Saturday afternoons and other times as needed.
Required: Valid driver’s license and proof of auto insurance, ability to lift cases of canned goods and/or 50 lb. sacks.

Clerical / Receptionist / Data Entry

Answer phones, write thank you notes, help with mailings, perform essential data entry work, miscellaneous filing. A variety of positions are available according to aptitudes and  availability.

Time: Tuesday – Saturday as needed, 4 hour shifts are morning or afternoon
Required: Professional demeanor, attention to detail is important. Knowledge and experience with data base management a plus.

Antique Store

Food For Thought Antiques and Collectibles store (LINK to Store page) provides an ongoing income source for Food For Thought. Volunteers work in our retail store, located at 2701 Gravenstein Highway South in Sebastopol. Volunteers are also needed to pick up donations and help with special events at the store.

Time: Monday – Sunday, 11a.m. – 5p.m.
Age: 18 years and older
Required: Ease in dealing with customers

Special events

Volunteers for a wide range of jobs are needed for all our special fundraising events: ticket takers, registration folk, guides and hosts, food and beverage assistants, drivers, phone solicitors, envelope stuffers, logistical set up, parking attendants, people with strong backs and people with gentle hands, and the (always important) clean-up crew.