Frequently Asked Questions About Volunteering
What are the COVID-19 protocols at SHMETROLINA? Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina is taking every safety precaution for our volunteers and staff including increased cleaning/sanitizing of our facility after each volunteer shift, consistent handwashing, along with social distancing. We do ask volunteers to stay home if they experience any symptoms of illness. We have decreased the number of volunteers per shift to 30 (it was 80). Masks are optional and will be provided. For social distancing purposes we break each volunteer shift into 2-3 groups so no more than 10-15 volunteers are working on any one project.
When can adults volunteer at SHMETROLINA? Volunteers 17 and older can volunteer:
- Tuesday - Friday, 9am - 12pm
- Tuesday - Friday, 1pm - 4pm
- Saturday, 8:30am - 11:30am
- Saturday, 12:30pm - 3:30pm
Can children volunteer? Youth ages 13 thru 16 years of age can volunteer on Saturdays and must be accompanied by an adult 21+ years of age. The adult must also be registered to volunteer with the youth. Groups must have 1 adult per 4 youth. We ask that you only sign up for ONE shift on a Saturday so we can accommodate as many people as possible. These spots tend to book up about 3 months in advance so please plan early. We can provide a letter for your school or organization showing the hours you volunteered.
What will I be doing as a volunteer? Volunteers help us inspect and sort food or non-food products in our Charlotte warehouse that will get boxed and distributed to our partner agencies. At certain times during the year we may have special events for which we need volunteers. Please let the volunteer coordinator know that you are interested in special events. If you have a special skill that you would like to offer, please email our Volunteer Coordinator, Betsy Van Dyne, at bvandyne@secondharvest.org.
I have never volunteered before, is there a training class? Yes, training will be at the start of your volunteer session. We ask that you are courteous and arrive ten minutes before your shift so that you can sign-in and make a name tag and be ready at the start of your shift. Latecomers may not be able to work with their group.
What is the address? Our address is 500-B Spratt Street, Charlotte NC 28206.
What is the minimum and maximum group size? We can accommodate individual volunteers and groups of up to 20-25 people. Large groups may be divided up into 2 or 3 smaller groups depending on what projects are needed for that particular day.
Can I do my Court Ordered community service at SHMETROLINA? Yes we accept court ordered community service for ages 18+. Certain charges are an automatic disqualification and include but are not limited to: larceny, theft, forgery, breaking and entering, assault, drug charges, felonies and any violent or sexual offenses. A copy of your court document or ticket stating your offense is required to start and an official letter for the court will not be given without going thru the proper procedures. Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at bvandyne@secondharvest.org in advance to discuss or call 704-805-1712.
What should I wear to volunteer? All volunteers MUST wear closed-toed shoes (no sandals or flip flops) in order to volunteer. You should wear comfortable clothes as you will be in the warehouse. Please leave valuables at home as we do not have lockers.
Can SHMETROLINA accommodate volunteers with special needs? Due to safety regulations, we need to evaluate all situations individually. Safety is our main concern. Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at bvandyne@secondharvest.org or 704-805-1712 to discuss before scheduling a time to volunteer.
Is there a minimum time requirement to volunteer? Because each volunteer shift includes training and instructions for each project, individuals and groups must commit to volunteer for the entire length of each shift. All shifts are 3 hours. There is no long-term commitment required.
Can I volunteer on a regular basis? Absolutely! Regular individual volunteers are always needed and help tremendously. You may want to become a group leader! Regular groups that come to SHMETROLINA are also welcome. Some groups book once a month – for example the 3rd Thursday of each month. That way employees always know when their volunteer date is and we know that we are getting a dedicated group that want to support our mission to end hunger!
I want to volunteer, what is the process? Please click on our link below which goes to CERVIS - our Volunteer Scheduling System.
Register to volunteer 