Opportunities From: Volunteer Iowa

Our food pantry & clothing closet is available to anyone who comes - there are no income restrictions or requirements. Families can get a 3 day supply of food, personal care, diapers, produce, milk, meat, & eggs each month. They can also get 5 items of clothing per household member each month as well. They can also come everyday we’re open for our Anytime items which encompasses items like bread, prepared food, or extra/seasonal produce.

We need volunteers to safely, respectfully, and efficiently run our pantry and clothing closet. Many of these opportunities are during our pantry operating hours, but there are needs outside of pantry hours as well, including food rescue opportunities, truck inventory unloading, and pantry restocking. 

Much more information is found on our Volunteer page, or you can email our pantry manager, Carissa at carissa@johnstonpartnership.org

We are looking for volunteers to help deliver baskets to neighbors who are unable to pick them up themselves. A small amount of your time can make a big difference for local families. If you have a vehicle and are willing to help deliver, we would love to have you join us! Many hands make light work — come help us spread some Easter joy!

Purpose: Help clients select items needed from the food pantry.

Location: The food pantry in the Mission of Hope at 1700 B Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402

Reports to: Will Torrey, Michael Johnson

Dress Code: Casual (Prohibited clothing items include: anything with excessive holes, offensive/inappropriate/drug-related/gang-related language or logos, excessively short skirts/shorts, excessively low-cut shirts)

Time Commitment: Shifts are from 1:00PM – 4:00PM on weekdays; 1:00PM – 3:00PM on Saturdays.  Please let us know at least one day in advance when you plan to come in.

Responsibilities:

Additional skills/qualifications: Must be friendly, respectful, and willing to work with others.  Must be dependable, adaptable to change, and eager to complete tasks with a smile.  Any experience in retail/grocery stores a plus, but not required.

If interested, please feel free to reach out to Kelli Hansen at kelli.l.hansen@gmail.com

Program Description:

Working in the food pantry, greeting families and determining their needs. Making referrals to resources in the community as well as within MICA. Helping distribute food to those in need and helping to increase capacity with donations from the community.

Location: Grinnell

Duties:

·       Help package food items into grocery bags for community members accessing the pantry.

·       Sorting, weighing and documenting food as it arrives.

Skills required:

●      RSVP volunteers must be 55 years of age or older.

●      Able to keep information confidential

●      Positive attitude and willing to serve families in need

●      Relate well to others and take a team approach.

Amount of Time: Flexible schedule based on volunteers availability

Time of Day: Flexible schedule based on volunteers availability

Benefits:

●        Opportunity to help combat hunger throughout Grinnell

●        Develop lasting relationships with other volunteers

●        Supplemental life and accident insurance while volunteering (see brochure)

●        Milage reimbursement available if delivering food to homebound

Operation information: Established in 1965 to serve children and families affected by the conditions of poverty, MICA provides early childhood, health, family development and housing services as well as community enrichment programs.Helping People. Changing Lives. Building Communities.  Some of our most well-known programs include Head Start, Family Development and Self-Sufficiency (FaDSS), the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and WIC (Women, Infants and Children).