Volunteer Opportunities
To learn more about how to become a Second Harvest volunteer, contact Danny Robles,Volunteers Services Manager at (831) 722-7110 ext. 205 or danny@thefoodbank.org.
Saturday Food Sorts
Help sort and pack donated food at our Second Harvest warehouse in Watsonville on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm! You must be able to lift, sort, and carry. See a copy of the 2007 schedule here.
Distribution Desk
We need of on-call back-up volunteers for our food Distribution Desk on Tues., Wed., and Thurs. mornings from 8:00 - 1:00. Work involves weighing products purchased, assisting in moving products, loading dock and stocking shelves.
Community Food Hotline
We need help in the Community Food Hotline answering calls from those in need of food, directing people to pantries and soup kitchens, and answering questions about food stamps, WIC, and emergency shelters. Shifts are Mon - Fri, 9:00-1:00 and 1:00 - 5:00. Bi-lingual (English/Spanish) preferred but not required. Some familiarity with computers and data input, good people and phone skills is preferred.
Events & Fundraising
We need help with parades, setting up and taking down local events, fundraising dinners, etc. - all which help collect food and donations for the hungry. You need to have good people skills and be enthusiastic and interested in helping the hungry people in our community.
Office Assistance
We need assistance throughout the year with data entry, thank you letters, hand-written envelopes, and stuffing envelopes. Two-hours shifts available from Mon - Fri, 9:00 - 4:00.
Emergency Food Assistance Program
We need help packing food bags, handing out food, and certifying that families are eligible for food for our monthly Emergency Food Assistance Program. This is a drive through food distribution program that happens on the first Monday of every month, 8:00 - 1:00.
PIN Program
We need help sorting and packing food bags for our various food programs on Mon - Fri, 8:00 - 2:30. Low-income participants will receive a box of food and produce to take home.
Food Drives
Help collect food for hungry people throughout the year. Conduct your own personal food drive at home, work, neighborhood or place of worship. Click here for more information.
Garden Project
We need Garden Project volunteers on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month, 8:30 - 11:30, from May through November. Work involves preparing the soil, planting, weeding, harvesting and picking vegetables.
Dock Manager
We are looking for a Dock Manager to work at our food Distribution Desk Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Thursday, 8:00 -- 1:00. You must be capable of assisting agencies load their vehicles with food, handle pallets, lift and move bags and boxes of produce (up to 50 pounds) and use the forklift. You must also be capable of coordinating traffic safety. Bilingual (English/Spanish) is highly desirable, but not a requirement.
Board of Directors & Committees
Second Harvest is always looking for diverse community leaders with creative ideas to help guide us towards the future.
Bread and Produce Distribution
We need help with our weekly bread/produce distribution, every Friday from 11:00 - 3:00, from May through October. Work involves signing people in, keeping the area organized, and directing traffic.
Food for Children Distribution
Assist in distributing food at one of our 26 Food for Children distribution sites. One-hour shifts available are in the afternoon Tues - Thurs. Work involves setting up a table with literature, certifying people are eligible for a food bag, handing out food bags, and returning all paperwork/materials to the driver.
Graphic Arts Intern
We need an intern who can work with us to apply a style guide to all of our current documents. These documents include: all event materials (posters, invites, kits), invoices, agency communication materials, and outreach materials (flyers, cards, etc.). We are looking for someone with a graphic arts background who is well-versed in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, Excel, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, In Design, and Acrobat. Part-time, flexible Mon -Fri, 8:00 - 5:00.
