Opportunities From: Good Shepherd Food Bank

Please select ONE new volunteer orientation date below. You will be able to select additional volunteer shifts in the Auburn Distribution Center opportunity after you have attended orientation.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Good Shepherd Food Bank.  Thanks to volunteers like you, we are able to increase the amount of food we distribute to help end hunger in Maine.

Volunteers at the Auburn Distribution Center mainly assist our team with inspecting and sorting salvage food items from our retail partners like Hannaford Bros. Co.  They are also essential in helping us sort and pack produce, bread, or refrigerated/frozen items.  Most of the produce that our volunteers sort and pack come from our Mainers Feeding Mainers program.  Through this program, the Food Bank works with over 80 farmers throughout the state to provide our partner agencies with local, nutritious produce. 

As a new volunteer, you will spend your first day at our facility being oriented and trained for your volunteer role. This will include learning how to check in, learning about our organization, and training for your volunteer task. Tasks are assigned depending on the needs of the distribution center.

Important information to review before arriving:

Closed-toe shoes are required at all volunteer projects. We suggest dressing in casual clothing. Review our safety guidelines before volunteering (Safety Guidelines are located in the left side panel of your dashboard.) Volunteers MUST be 14 years or older. Those under 16 years of age need to be accompanied by an adult. All volunteers under the age of 18 need to have a liability waiver signed by a parent/guardian. If you are feeling ill, please cancel your shift and stay home and take care of yourself. View our task descriptions here.

Please select ONE new volunteer orientation date below. You will be able to select additional volunteer shifts in the Auburn Distribution Center opportunity after you have attended orientation.

When scheduling your shift, PLEASE SCHEDULE NO LATER THAN 3:00 PM THE DAY BEFORE. You will receive an email confirming the selected day and time.

We look forward to meeting you!

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Good Shepherd Food Bank.  Thanks to volunteers like you, we are able to increase the amount of food we distribute to help end hunger in Maine.

Volunteer opportunities at the Hampden Distribution Center consists primarily of packing food boxes for two programs, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and the Community Health & Hunger Program (CHHP). 

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) works to improve the health of low-income people age 60 and older by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA commodity foods. The Community Health & Hunger Program (CHHP) provides healthcare partners with pre-packed emergency food bags for direct and immediate distribution to those who identify as food insecure.   We may also ask our volunteers to help with occasional/seasonal produce inspection.

As a new volunteer, you will spend your first day at our facility learning the basics. This will include learning how to check in, learning about our organization, meeting the warehouse team, and training for your volunteer task. Tasks are assigned depending on the needs of the distribution center.

Important information to review before arriving:

Closed-toe shoes and gloves are required at all times while working in our warehouse. We will provide gloves if you do not have a pair. We suggest dressing comfortably and in casual clothing. We have a breakroom onsite that you are welcome to use. Feel free to bring a clear water bottle with you - only water can be brought out to the packing line. All other beverages and food must be enjoyed in the breakroom. Review our safety guidelines before volunteering (Safety Guidelines are located in the left side panel of your dashboard.) Volunteers must be 14 years or older. Those under 16 years of age need to be accompanied by an adult. All volunteers under the age of 18 need to have a liability waiver signed by a parent/guardian. If you are feeling ill, please cancel your shift and stay home to take care of yourself. In case of inclement weather, please prioritize your safety. If you cannot travel safely, please cancel your shift. View our task descriptions here

When you arrive, please come to the volunteer entrance located on the left side of the building. See the arrow in the photo below indicating this entrance:

  

 

 

Please select a new volunteer orientation date below. You will be able to select additional volunteer shifts in the Hampden Distribution Center opportunity after you have attended orientation.

Thank you for scheduling your first shift no later than 3pm the day before. You will receive an email confirming the selected day and time.

We look forward to meeting you!

 

 

Thank you for your interest in volunteering for our Cooking Matters classes with Good Shepherd Food Bank. We are the largest food bank in Maine and thanks to volunteers like you, we are able to increase educational opportunities across the state to teach people how to prepare nutritious meals for themselves and their families.

Please review the information regarding the program below and fill out an application here to see Cooking Matters volunteer opportunities near you!

 

What is Cooking Matters?

Share Our Strength's Cooking Matters is a ground-breaking nutrition-education program that connects families with food by teaching them how to prepare healthy, tasty, low-cost meals. Professional chefs and nutritionists volunteer their time and expertise to lead hands-on courses that instruct adults, teens, and kids on how to get the most nutrition out of a limited budget. 

In Maine, Cooking Matters is managed by Good Shepherd Food Bank. Classes are offered in partnership with Maine SNAP-Ed, Eat Well Nutrition Program, 5-2-1-0 Let's Go!, and other community partners. Cooking Matters partners with host agencies such as local community centers, after-school programs, and food pantries to offer classes for the agency's clients. 

What We Do

Each of Cooking Matter's specialized nutrition curricula teaches hands-on meal preparation, practical nutrition information, and food budgeting skills. These four to six-week classes are free to participants and host agencies. At each class, participants receive a bag of groceries and recipes to try at home.

We have a wide variety of opportunities for people interesting in volunteering with Cooking Matters Maine. Volunteers are expected to attend all six, two-hour classes whenever possible. Should you be able to attend some, but not all of the course dates  

Culinary instructors serve as an educator and role model, teaching key skills ad inspiring participants to cook healthier, inexpensive meals at home.   Nutrition educators will serve as a teacher and role model, teaching and reinforcing key messages about healthy eating and inspiring participants to adopt healthy eating habits.  Course coordinators are responsible for organizing the Cooking Matters class and all parties involved. Class shoppers do the grocery shopping prior to each class and ensure that each class is stocked with healthy, inexpensive foods.  Class assistants will provide classroom support as needed. 

View our task descriptions here and view the video below for more information about the Cooking Matters program:

We look forward to seeing you at one of our classes! Happy cooking!