In 2009, volunteers served 19,685 hours at the food bank and helped distribute over 1 million pounds of food. With only two paid staff members, the White Center Food Bank is a volunteer-driven organization. In order to ensure the needs of our clients are met and to help provide good customer service, it takes 20-25 volunteers to run the food bank when we are open for distribution. The White Center Food Bank is open for distribution four days a week and offers a wide variety of opportunities to meet the volunteer needs of individuals, groups, and organizations that wish to help provide essential services to hungry families in our community. Without the support of hundreds of volunteer hours here at the food bank, we would not be able to provide so many services in the community. There are many ways to offer your expertise here at the food bank. Please consider giving some of your time to help ease the pain of hunger in our community!  Grocery Rescue Drivers and Driver Support: We are looking for volunteers to drive our van and accompany our drivers to collected donated food from food drives, local grocery stores and individual donors. Shifts are Monday-Friday from 8:30AM-1:00PM and 1:00PM to 5:00 PM. A valid drivers license for driving, training in the grocery rescue program and a food handlers permit are requirements for both of these positions. Training can be arranged by the food bank. Minimum commitment: 1 day/week for 3 months.
Client Intake/Data Entry Support: We are looking for caring volunteers who would like to help clients fill out minimal paperwork and enter their information into our database. Client Intake volunteers will also be trained to help order and distribute items for low-income families with babies as well as Emergency Feeding Program bags for special dietary needs and after-hours emergency food needs. Bilingual ++. We are currently looking for volunteers to work on Wednesdays from 10 AM - 1:00 PM. Minimum commitment: 1 day/week for 6 months.
Food Line Workers: The food bank serves approximately 100+ families each day that we  are open! Volunteers help to stock shelves, package food, set up the produce and bakery department and distribute food to the community. Training will be provided. Food handlers permit preferred and can be arranged through the food bank. Shifts run Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday from 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM. Minimum commitment: 1 day/week for 3 months
Baby Pantry Support: Through our partnership with Westside Baby and other groups in the community, we are able to provide support to families with infants. The Baby Pantry is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM to provide items such as infant formula, clothing, baby food, equipment, and diapers. Volunteers will help take orders and distribute these items to families. Minimum commitment: 1 day/week for 3 months.
 Help the Hungry Food Drive: Are you a member of a community group, club, or workplace? Hosting a food drive for the food bank can be a great way to support hungry children and families in White Center. We can supply a packet of instructions and help to coordinate with grocery stores or your organization. We will also pick up donations as needed from your food drive.
Lettuce Pray: Now in it's 4th year, Lettuce Pray has collected over 3000 pounds of fresh produce and 6000 pounds of non perishable items for both the White Center and West Seattle Food Banks. Lettuce Pray is our pick up and delivery service for churches in the Southwest Seattle area. July-early October, they mobilize home gardeners who attend the participating churches to bring fresh produce to church on Sunday, for pick up and immediate delivery into cold storage at the food banks. Additionally, they will transport any non perishable items, diapers, pet food and grocery coupons. This helps us provide much needed, healthy fresh food to our clients - a difficult and expensive thing for many of them to access. During the months of November-June, they also collect non perishables monthly. Please contact Jane Taylor at janeatay@msn.com or 206 932 9339.
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