Nourishing Communities byFeeding Hungry People
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Volunteer Opportunities
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Gleaners Community Food Bank. We appreciate your support!
Follow the links below to learn more about our volunteer opportunities, including how to sign-up:
- Distribution Center Volunteers - Helping to sort and pack food in our warehouses
- Neighborhood Beautification Day at Mexicantown Mercado
- Gleaners Greeters at Detroit distribution center
- Kids Helping Kids (for k-12 groups)
(Saturdays FULL through June 1) - Empty Bowls (for children 6-17 years old)
- Hunger Study
- Partner Site Monitor/Inspector
- Cooking Matters
- Special Events/ Speakers Bureau
- Fresh Food Share
- SNAP Outreach
- DTE Energy Farm
- Hold a Food or Fund Drive
Distribution Centers
Typical volunteer activities at our distribtution centers involve sorting and packing food.
Warehouse safety: Please wear closed-toed shoes!
If you would like to schedule a shift for 2013, please choose from the distribution centers below and follow the sign up link.
Detroit Distribution Center
2131 Beaufait
Detroit, MI 48207
Map & directions »
Volunteer Hours:
Tues - Sat: 9am - Noon and 1 - 4pm
Groups up to 100 on Saturdays
Groups up to 50 on weekdays
Sign up to volunteer at the Detroit Distribution Center »
Volunteer Contact:
Karen Rogensues
detvol@gcfb.org
866-GLEANER, ext. 239
Gleaners Livingston Distribution Center
5924 Sterling Drive
Howell, MI 48843
Map & directions »
Volunteer Hours:
Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm
Individuals only in 2 hour shifts
Tues & Wed: 6:30 - 8pm and Sat: 10am - 11:30am
Groups of 5-15
Sign up to volunteer at the Livingston Distribution Center »
Volunteer Contact:
Michelle Ounanian
livvol@gcfb.org
866-GLEANER, ext. 335
Gleaners Oakland Distribution Center
120 East Columbia Avenue
Pontiac, MI 48340
Map & directions »
Volunteer Hours:
Tues - Sat: 9 - 11:30am and 12:30-2:30 pm
Groups up to 40
Sign up to volunteer at the Oakland Distribution Center »
Volunteer Contact:
Jenna Yuhase
oakvol@gcfb.org
866-GLEANER, ext. 403
Gleaners Taylor Distribution Center
25670 Northline Road
Taylor, MI 48180
Map & directions »
Volunteer Hours:
Thursday: 9am - Noon
Sat: 9am - Noon & 1 - 3:30pm
Groups up to 30
*Individual volunteer activities available at Fish & Loaves Pantry: 734-442-0031
Sign up to volunteer at the Taylor Distribution Center »
Volunteer Contact:
Karen Rogensues
tayvol@gcfb.org
866-GLEANER, ext. 239
Gleaners Joan & Wayne Webber Distribution Center (Warren Distribution Center)
24162 Mound Road
Warren, MI 48091
Map & directions »
Volunteer Hours:
Friday: 9am - Noon
Saturday: 9am - Noon & 1 - 4pm
Groups up to 40
Sign up to volunteer at the Warren Distribution Center »
Volunteer Contact:
Bill Jambeau
wjambeau@gcfb.org
866-GLEANER, ext. 354
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Neighborhood Beautification Day
We're looking for volunteers to help with flower planting and clean-up projects, in tandem with southwest Detroit residents, partners, donors and staff at the Mexicantown Mercado from 8am until Noon on Saturday, June 1, 2013. Breakfast & water will be provided - just wear your yardwork clothes & a smile!
To register, please go to: http://bit.ly/nbd2013_form
Gleaners Greeters
Thank you for your interest in volunteering! Gleaners Greeter Volunteers are needed on weekday mornings and afternoons in Detroit. The main purpose for having a Gleaners Greeter is to provide our partner agencies with friendly assistance. In addition to making people feel welcome, Greeters assist partner agencies with loading their orders. The position may require lifting up to 40 pounds as well as some light cleaning duties to keep the area neat.
Gleaners Greeters must be able to volunteer for at least one shift per week for a minimum of six weeks.
Sign up to volunteer as a Gleaners Greeter at the Detroit Distribution Center »
Kids Helping Kids
Kids learn about hunger and nutrition while helping their hungry peers through the Kids Helping Kids program. School and other children's groups are encouraged to sign-up!
Note: Due to the overwhelming generosity of so many people, our Saturday Kids Helping Kids volunteer opportunities are full through June 1!
Detroit Distribution Center
2131 Beaufait
Detroit, MI 48207
Map & directions »
KHK Volunteer Hours:
2nd Monday of each month: 5-7pm
T-Sat: 9am - 11:30am
T&Th: 12:30-2:30pm
Sat: 1-3pm
Groups up to 25
Please contact us to schedule your group to volunteer for KHK Detroit »
*Individuals can join KHK during Family Day,
held every 3rd Saturday
Please contact us to schedule your group to volunteer for KHK Family Day »
KHK Contact:
Reggie Williams
rwilliams@gcfb.org
866-GLEANER, ext. 231
Gleaners Oakland Distribution Center
120 East Columbia Avenue
Pontiac, MI 48340
Map & directions »
Volunteer Hours:
Tues - Sat: 9 - 11:30am
& 12:30-2:30 pm
Groups up to 25
Sign up your group to volunteer for KHK Oakland »
KHK Contact:
Jenna Yuhase
oakkhk@gcfb.org
866-GLEANER, ext. 403
Gleaners Joan & Wayne Webber Distribution Center (Warren Distribution Center)
24162 Mound Road
Warren, MI 48091
Map & directions »
Volunteer Hours:
Thursday: 9:30 - 11:30am and 12:30 - 2:30pm
Groups up to 25
Sign up your group to volunteer for KHK Warren »
KHK Contact:
Bill Jambeau
wjambeau@gcfb.org
866-GLEANER, ext. 354
Empty Bowls
A potter assists school age participants (ages 6 – 17) in making one clay bowl to take home and one to donate to the food bank to be used at an Empty Bowls fundraiser to help feed hungry neighbors. This fun filled day takes place at our Detroit Distribution Center. To participate in Empty Bowls, a $5 donation to cover the program costs for each participant, paid in advance is requested.
Empty Bowls sessions are held on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month from 9am – 11:30am or 1pm - 3:30pm. Group Size should be 10 – 16, which includes one adult chaperone for every 10 children.
Contact Reggie Williams at rwilliams@gcfb.org or call 866-GLEANER, ext 231, to schedule a session.
Hunger Study Volunteers
Team Leaders
We are looking for 10 volunteers this spring and summer to lead a team of 2-3 data collectors each to go to our partner locations and conduct interviews with the end users of Gleaners food products. Team Lead Volunteers will need basic computer knowledge and be comfortable in a supervisory role. Hours will vary (2-4 hours for each visit) and may occur during weekends, evenings, and early mornings. Team Lead Volunteers will be taken through a 3-4 hour training session before the first partner location visit.
Data Collectors
We are also looking for 20-30 data collection volunteers this spring and summer to go to our partner locations and conduct interviews with the end users of Gleaners food products. Data Collection Volunteers will need basic computer knowledge as they will help clients through the standardized Hunger Study on a tablet computer. Hours will vary (2-4 hours for each visit) and may occur during weekends, evenings, and early mornings. Data Collection Volunteers will be taken through a 3-4 hour training session before the first partner location visit.
If you are interested in either the team leader or data collector volunteer position, please contact Dave Duey at dduey@gcfb.org or (313) 923-3535 ext. 247.
Partner Site Monitor/Inspector
More than 400 Partner Agencies are currently distributing Gleaners Community Food Bank foods to hungry men, women, and children each day of the year. We cherish the work of these partner agencies because most have limited budgets, and aside from the support of the food bank, few other available resources. The task of addressing basic human needs becomes particularly hard during tough economic times.
We at Gleaners must applaud and support these separate and unique non-profits who receive and distribute Gleaners Food, while ensuring that the food bank’s mission of providing efficient, safe, and fair service to all is also upheld.
The Partner Site Monitor volunteer selects a set of Gleaners Agency Partner Sites to visit. At these sites, using our easy to read questionnaire, the Partner Monitor will ask the staff a set of standardized questions designed to get to the core of our food bank’s mission:
- Is the distribution site clean and safe for residents from the surrounding community?
- Are both the staff, and the process, respectful of individuals at this site?
- Is the service being provided at this site sustainable?
Sites are located across 5 counties and while there is the greatest need for individuals and corporate teams of volunteers in the city of Detroit proper, visits are possible almost anywhere in the Greater Metropolitan Area.
For details about this community-based, volunteer experience, contact Darryl Hicks, the Manager of Compliance in the Agency Relations Department at 866-GLEANER or dhicks@gcfb.org.
Cooking Matters™
Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters™ is a groundbreaking nutrition-education program that connects families with food by teaching them how to prepare healthy, tasty meals on a limited budget. Professional chefs and nutritionists volunteer their time and expertise to lead hands-on courses that show adults, teens and kids how to purchase and prepare nutritious foods in healthful, safe and tasty ways. This knowledge can mean the difference between feeding families just for one night, and making sure they never again have to worry about when their next meal will come.
If you are interested in helping out, please contact the Cooking Matters™ coordinator at 313-923-3535 ext 202 or cookingmatters@gcfb.org.
Sign up online to volunteer for Cooking Matters™ here »
Learn more about Cooking Matters™ here »
Special Events/Speakers Bureau
To receive special events volunteer email alerts or for information on how you can become a member of Gleaners' speakers bureau:
Julie Ptasznik
eventvol@gcfb.org
866-GLEANER, ext. 245
Current Speakers Bureau members may download sample presentations, the Speakers Bureau manual and other items here.
Fresh Food Share
The Fresh Food Share Program is a community-based food distribution system serving the Detroit area. Help is needed packing and distributing food on one Thursday each month. For information about volunteering for Fresh Food Share, contact FreshFoodShare@gcfb.org or visit the Fresh Food Share Program page.
Snap Outreach
Gleaners is looking for volunteers to disperse SNAP info at local farmers markets, Gleaners mobile pantry sites and other community locations. For more information, contact Winona at wbynum@gcfb.org or (313)923-3535, ext. 265.
DTE Energy Farm
For information about the DTE Energy Farm, contact Kate Long at (734) 545-2758 or at dteenergygardens@gcfb.org or visit the DTE Energy Farm page.
In-Kind Donations
Gleaners accepts in-kind donations of goods and services.
Planned Giving
You can support Gleaners through your will or estate plan.
Endowment
A gift to the Gleaners Endowment Fund will help ensure Gleaners is able to meet the needs of hungry children, families and seniors well into the future.
Volunteer E-news
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