Food4Kids Hamilton
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Volunteers are our most valuable resource and we would not exist without you!
Every week, 50+ volunteers help us unpack cases of food, pack food bags and deliver to 87 schools in Hamilton. Our volunteers are integral to helping us ensure no child in Hamilton goes hungry. Join our group of committed volunteers today and help feed the future of our city.
READY TO VOLUNTEER?
Thank you for your interest in supporting Food4Kids Hamilton!
APPLY TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER SCHOOL DELIVERY DRIVER
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
At Food4Kids Hamilton we want you to find a volunteer role that's right for you. That's why we offer several different volunteer positions, each with their own unique requirements and benefits. Below we've listed our current opportunities, with descriptions and commitment levels, to help you decide which is best suited for you.
Food Packing Volunteer
*currently no spots available
Overview: Each week, Food4Kids Hamilton provides healthy food bags to almost 1700 children in 87 elementary and high schools across the city of Hamilton. These food bags are assembled by the Food4Kids Hamilton team with the invaluable help of volunteers. This a fun, fast-paced, and extremely important role within the Food4Kids program! Perfect for individuals (who are over 16 years of age) and groups.
Details: The food for the weekly bags is placed on tables, and one of each item is placed in a bag. Once all items are in the bag, it will be double-knotted and placed on a shelf at the front of the warehouse to be counted by a Food4Kids employee, ready for distribution to a child in need who is registered in the Weekends Without Hunger program.
Commitment: Every Wednesday afternoon/evening during the school year (September-June) for about 2 hours per session.
Unpacking and Organizing Volunteer
*currently no spots available
Overview: Because almost 1,700 food bags are packed weekly, with up to 15 items per bag, there are over 19,000 individual food items that must be unpacked and sorted on a weekly basis! Without the help of volunteers, this would take an incredible amount of time to complete. This is a group opportunity for high school students who are looking to complete their Community Involvement high school volunteer hours.
Details: This particular role involves lifting and opening boxes of food, unpacking their contents, and placing them in appropriate containers for use in the weekly food bags. The cardboard boxes will then be broken down and placed in the large recycling bin at the Food4Kids warehouse.
Commitment: Every Wednesday afternoon during the school year (September-June) for about 2 hours per session.
Delivery Driver Volunteer
*now accepting applications
Overview: Another equally important part of Weekends Without Hunger is actually getting the healthy food bags into the hands of the students registered in our program. This role is perfect for those individuals or groups wishing to help out on a weekly basis. Occasional/on-call availability is also welcome.
Details: Each delivery route has between 1-4 schools (this can vary based on the number of food bags required per school) that are grouped based on geographical location within the city. On Thursday mornings, the Food4Kids volunteer drivers arrive at our Barton Street location to pick up their bins of food, and then head out to deliver to their assigned schools. We have large carts to transport the full bins (sometimes weighing up to 25 pounds!) to your vehicle, and dollies to help with transporting the bins from your vehicle to the schools. When our volunteers arrive at a school, they will buzz the main office for entry, introduce themselves, and take the bins to the appropriate location (this varies by school) within the school. The school will give our volunteers the empty bins from the previous week. These can be kept until the following week, and returned to the Food4Kids warehouse when the next week’s food deliveries are picked up.
Commitment: Every Thursday morning during the school year (September-June) for 1-1.5 hours per session.
Special Events Volunteer
*currently no spots available
Overview: At Food4Kids Hamilton we have several special fundraising throughout the year that require the support of volunteers. Special events are great for those looking to get involved just once or twice a year!
Some of our events include:
Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Decorating
Volunteers are invited to various Tim Hortons restaurants in the city of Hamilton to decorate cookies. Proceeds from all cookies sold then go to Food4Kids Hamilton & Hamilton Food Share!
Flowers4Mom
Hundreds of beautiful flower baskets are generously donated each year by our incredible partner Scharringa Greenhouses. Volunteers are asked to help deliver these baskets to the front door step of moms on the Saturday of Mother's Day weekend.
Commitment: Most events happen once a year and require 1-2 hours per session.
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VOLUNTEER FAQS
Have another question? We’re happy to answer!
To learn more about volunteering at Food4Kids Hamilton contact us >
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Do you accept food donations?No, we do not accept food donations.
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How do I make a donation to Food4Kids Hamilton?You can make a donation online via CanadaHelps. If you would like to make your donation via mail, please download our donation form. If you would prefer to make your donation in person or over the phone please contact us.
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How and when will I get my tax receipt?When you donate online (via our website) you will immediately receive an email with your tax receipt. If you send in a donation via mail, you will receive a tax receipt (mailed back to you) within 2 weeks.
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Why should I donate monthly?It benefits you. Donating monthly is simple, convenient & quick because donations are automatically processed each month. Regular donations can be made in affordable monthly payments. A cumulative tax receipt is issued annually. Donors can easily increase, decrease, pause or stop their contribution at any time making it very flexible. It benefits Food4Kids Hamilton & the community. Monthly donation allow us to set more predictable budgets and plan activities accordingly. They also help us to cut our overhead costs including postage and administration. This allows us to have more dollars to allocate towards feeding kids!
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Is there a minimum donation amount required to receive a tax receipt?We can issue a tax receipt for a minimum donation of $20.
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How do I make a change to my monthly donation?Any changes to your donation (including your address, donation amount, payment method) must be done directly through logging into your Canada Helps account at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/sign-in.
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How do I make a donation as a tribute?When donating online click “Dedicate your donation”. A card reflective of the occasion can be mailed if requested and the family will be notified of your gift, while gift amounts remain confidential.
VOLUNTEER TESTIMONIALS
We strive to provide a best-in-class volunteer experience for all those that choose to support Food4Kids Hamilton with their time. We are so grateful to ALL of our amazing volunteers who continue to make our mission possible.