Volunteer FAQ
How do I sign up to volunteer?
You can sign up to volunteer directly by visiting volunteer-northernilfoodbank.org. If you visited our site in the past, you’ll notice the online calendar looks different. That’s because the Food Bank launched a new online registration system for volunteers effective November 1, 2022. Any questions, feel free to send an email to the Volunteer Team at volunteer@northernilfoodbank.org or call 630-443-6910 (PRESS 2).
Can I complete my court-ordered community service at the Food Bank?
A number of court-ordered service hour offenses may be completed by volunteering at the Food Bank once approved by the Court-Compelled Coordinator. All individuals must be at least 16 years old, and must first call and leave a message at 630-443-6910 ext. 192 or send an email to courtcompelled@northernilfoodbank.org to verify the offense is of an acceptable nature. For more details, visit our Court-Required Service page.
Do I need to create an account before I can schedule a volunteer shift in the new system?
Yes, you will need to have a completed account before you can begin scheduling volunteer shifts. Volunteers with a valid email address in our system after January 1, 2018 were imported into the new system. Passwords did NOT carry over though so volunteers will need to click “forgot password” under the log-in field the first time they attempt to log in. For assistance, email the Volunteer Team at volunteer@northernilfoodbank.org.
Can I schedule a team of volunteers to help?
Yes, of course! We look forward to having your workplace, faith-based group, school, neighborhood, family and more volunteer with us soon! Team leaders looking to bring a group of more than 20 volunteers should complete the Team Volunteer Reservation Request. Groups less than 20 volunteers can sign up online today! For more info, visit our Team Volunteering page for detailed instructions on how to sign up a team.
Is there a deadline for submitting my team member names and email addresses?
Yes, all team members names and email addresses must be confirmed at least two weeks prior to your shift date. Any slots that are not confirmed in this time frame, will be released back to the public calendar. This change has been made to ensure we have enough volunteers for each shift for all of our opportunities. The Food Bank relies on this support to complete projects on time and provide necessary food to our neighbors.
As a team leader how to I confirm the names and email addresses for my team members?
To manage a team, begin by navigating to the "My Teams" page by clicking the dropdown menu in the upper-right-hand corner (this is a circle with initials in it on a desktop or a "hamburger menu" box with lines on mobile). From there, team leaders can manage their group by either entering the names and email addresses of each team member OR by sharing the “Copy Join Link” found in the middle of the screen with the those they’d like to invite to volunteer with their team. For complete instructions on how to manage a team of volunteers, please see our Team Volunteering page.
How old must you be to volunteer at the Food Bank?
We welcome children ages 8 and older for all Food Sort & Pack shifts. For our Grocery Distribution shifts that involve interacting directly with our neighbors and often working outside around car traffic, volunteers must be at least 12 years old. For detailed instructions on how to register youth volunteers, please visit our Youth Volunteering page.
Do adults need to accompany children/youth?
Yes! Any volunteer under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older. Children ages 8 and older may volunteer with families or in groups with adult chaperones. Chaperone ratios are 1:4 for ages 8-13 and 1:10 for ages 14-17. For more info on how to register youth volunteers, please visit our Youth Volunteering page.
Is there a dress code?
Yes, we recommend dressing comfortably and in layers depending on the season of year. Additionally, volunteers working at our Centers and outdoor food distributions must wear fully enclosed shoes. Individuals wearing opened-toe shoes such as sandals, flip flops, soccer slides, Crocs, Keens, slippers, as well as, high heeled shoes are not allowed while volunteering. Medical boots are also a safety concern and not allowed. Long shorts or pants and t-shirts or sweatshirts are recommended.
Are there any physical requirements?
The majority of our volunteer opportunities include sorting, inspecting and repacking food for our neighbors. These tasks require some level of physical activity– from standing on concrete floors for several hours at a time to occasionally lifting at least 10 pounds.
Are volunteers required to stay for the entire shift?
Yes. Our projects are designed for specific time periods so we ask that volunteers commit to the entire shift. For that reason, it is also important you arrive on time. We understand that schedules change, so if you are unable to commit to the full shift, please consider rescheduling for another shift that works better with your schedule.
What will check-in look like when I arrive for my volunteer shift?
Volunteers can walk up to any computer kiosk available to them when they arrive at one of our four Centers. At some of our opportunities at a Center or at an offsite distribution, you may see a Food Bank staff member or volunteer leader with a tablet (or paper sign-in sheet!) ready to assist you checking in for your shift. In this case, just let them know you are ready to volunteer and they will assist you.
