May 2026: Volunteers needed to pick up donations.  Sign up here

Volunteers

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May 2026: Below are some volunteer opportunities we are needing help with:

These opportunities DO NOT REQUIRE ORIENTATION.

Monthly Operation Food Search warehouse pickup (3rd Friday morning of the month)

  • Once a month (3rd Friday of the month in the morning) we send a pair (driver and rider) of people to St Louis (Olivette/Creve Coeur area off I-170) to pickup food from Operation Food Search (OFS).
  • This team takes a trailer that we borrow, loads the donations at OFS, returns to the food pantry, and the donations are unloaded (with the help of others at the pantry).
  • We are looking for drivers that have a vehicle that can tow the trailer. This would not be every month but alternate with other drivers.  
  • We would also be happy to have a couple more riders that can alternate with others.
  • This team typically meets at the pantry around 7:15 am and is done by 10 am.

**Due to vacation and other issues, there is a need for a driver for our May 15, 2026 pickup.  Driver will be paired with at least one experienced volunteer rider.
 
Ruler Foods grocery shopping (every other Wednesday morning)

  • Looking for volunteers that can help on Wednesdays every 2 weeks to pickup an order from Ruler Foods in Fairview Heights.
  • Store typically has the order pulled for us so it is a matter of the cashier ringing this up and our volunteers loading, transporting and unloading this food.
  • Unfortunately our regular driver for this has moved away from the area. 
  • This order does include cases of whole chickens. These can potentially be messy so it is preferred to use a pickup truck. 
  • Need drivers with a truck that are willing to help with this grocery pickup. 
  • Also, need substitute ride-along volunteers (help with loading/unloading) for when a regular volunteer is out or to help create a rotation of volunteers.
  • This starts around 7:30 am at the pantry - be at Ruler when store opens at 8 am - and volunteers are typically done by 9 am.


Aldi grocery shopping (Thursday mornings and Saturday mornings)

  • Looking for volunteers to help with Aldi shopping.
  • Need substitutes for when a regular volunteer is out or to help create a rotation of volunteers.
  • We shop Thursday and Saturday mornings. Thursday is the greatest need.
  • This requires volunteers to pull groceries from the shelves based on our list for the day, transport the groceries to the pantry and unload. 
  • Aldi O'Fallon opens at 8:30 am. Our team usually meets at Aldi 8:30 and are done by 9:30 am after unloading at the pantry.
  • Having either a truck or SUV is a plus but not required.  


May 09: Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive
In partnership with the O'Fallon Post Office, we are participating in the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. After the rummage sale ends, volunteers are invited to help sort donated food in the Township Hall on Saturday, May 9th from 2 - 6 PM. Sign up here.

Types of Opportunities

If you're looking to get involved with our pantry, there are three primary ways to donate your time.

These are three-hour shifts.  Requires standing, bending, lifting, filling grocery orders, stocking shelves, walking outside and greeting clients. There are 5-6 volunteers per shift. Volunteers are required to attend orientation before working any pantry shift.

Shifts are the following hours with volunteers arriving at least 15 minutes before start of their shift.

  • Monday: 9 AM – 12PM
  • Tuesday: 9 AM – 12 PM or 12 – 3 PM (or until last client leaves)
  • Friday: 9 AM – 12 PM or 12 – 3 PM (or until last client leaves)

Great options for those that would rather work behind the scenes.

Requires lifting, bending, and carrying to load/unload.

Opportunities are mornings during the week and Saturday.

Not required to attend orientation.

This can involve local food pickups – both grocery and food donations.  Times vary based but typically require 60 to 90 minutes.

Once a month we pickup donations at Operation Food Search warehouse in St Louis. This is a volunteer opportunity for a driver with a truck/SUV that can tow a trailer PLUS assistants that can ride along to help with loading. This will be a Friday morning from about 7:15 – 10:30 am.

This is a family-friendly opportunity and all ages are welcome. When we gather for a food drive, volunteers will help sort or move food into storage. Not required to attend orientation.


Volunteer Age and Eligibility Requirements

For safety reasons, children must be at least twelve years old and accompanied by parental supervision to be allowed to work in the Food Pantry. Volunteers without parental supervision must be at least 16 years old, have their own cell phone, and transportation.

Anyone who is a Food Pantry client or has an immediate family member being served by the Food Pantry cannot be a volunteer.  Immediate family is defined as anyone with whom the person is sharing a home.

Service Hours and Community Service Hours

Young people may volunteer and be given service hour credit for services such as confirmation, honor society, scouts, etc.

The Food Pantry will accept volunteers serving court-ordered community service for minor traffic violations but will not accept volunteers serving community service for arrests related to drugs, alcohol, or physical violence. Those working shifts will be required to attend orientation before they can volunteer.

Volunteer Orientation

Shift volunteers are required to attend orientation before working at the pantry.

Volunteer orientation is typically held quarterly on the 1st Thursday of that month at 1 pm for approximately one hour.

To become a new volunteer, please fill out our volunteer application by clicking the button below.