The Calgary Food Bank is a non-profit organization that collects food donations and distributes them to those in need. Supported by sponsors and help from the community, the food bank offers relief for people across Canada. I started volunteering at the food bank in January 2014 on Wednesday nights. Although all new volunteers must go through orientation and training process before actually starting.
* New volunteers must be at least 12 years old, but must be accompanied by a guardian until you are 15. At special events volunteers must be at least 8 years old.
According to the website, I got a list of a variety of activities that volunteers can do at the food bank:
- Sorting incoming food donations
- Receiving and recording donations
- Assembling emergency food hampers
- General light warehouse duties
- Welcoming people who have come to the Calgary Food Bank
- Handing out emergency food hampers
- Administrative duties
- Assembling Birthday Bags for children
- Organizing and operating the Baby Room
- Answering the Hamper Request phone lines
- Driving throughout the community collecting donations
- Accepting donations at various special events across the city
At the food bank, I chose to help assemble emergency food hampers. The food is organized into varying amounts for different sized families and then put into crates. From there, the food is handed out to families or put into trucks to be driven to other food bank locations around the city.
Overall, I find volunteering at the food bank very gratifying and it helps me de-stress after school. Although not a lot of youth volunteer often, it is still a great way to meet new people. Everyone is super friendly and trying to make a difference, so you can’t help but get inspired by their motivation.
If you’re interested, make sure to check out their website and fill out a volunteer application form