Volunteer Guidelines
The following guidelines have been developed to answer the questions many of our volunteers have. If your question is not addressed here, please feel free to contact our Volunteer Coordinator by phone (408) 439-0915 or email at volunteer@loavesfishes.org.
What should I wear?
Wear comfortable "work" clothes and closed-toed shoes (i.e., jeans, walking shorts, tennis shoes, etc.) Please do not wear sandals, halter or tank tops, short shorts, etc. Wear your hair off of your face.
What will I do?
Volunteer activities include meal preparation, set-up of the dining hall, serving of the food and drinks, and clean-up. A typical meal takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours from beginning to end. Please sign in when you arrive and you will be given instructions as to what to do.
What should I bring?
Please bring a copy of notification from a doctor or clinic showing you do not have tuberculosis (TB). This is required by the government for volunteers that handle food. We will supply you with disposable gloves, but feel free to bring your own.
Will a meal be provided for me?
Unfortunately, no. We recommend that you eat a snack before coming to the kitchen to help out.
Who can volunteer?
We accept volunteers from age 14 years and older.
Can an entire group volunteer?
We are happy to have volunteer groups. Please only bring the number of people originally indicated. If you cannot fulfill your commitment (or if there will be fewer participants than expected), please let us know a least a week in advance. We will need to make other arrangements.
We look forward to working with you and hope your experience is enjoyable!
Volunteering
We are fortunate at Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen to have many wonderful, dedicated volunteers. Without them, we wouldn't be able to do what we do. We invite you to join us in our service to the community. Whether you come as a "regular" or on a one-time basis, your time and service are invaluable to our agency.
Current Needs
Please contact our volunteer manager at (408-439-0915) or email to schedule your volunteer activity. Volunteers are scheduled in advanced to ensure that we have adequate staffing to serve our guests. Please call or email to schedule your opportunity.
Meal Program
Because our staff is small, we depend largely on our volunteers to help with our meal program. As a volunteer at Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen, you may be asked to help with all aspects of the meals, including setting up our dining room for dinner, preparing the meal, serving and clean up. The time commitment for each meal is about 2.5 to 3 hours.
Grocery Bag Program:
As a volunteer with the Grocery Bag Program, you will help set
up, distribute grocery bags to families, and put away food
following the program.
3rd Wednesday of the month 8:30 am - 12:00 noon
St. Maria Goretti Kitchen
2980 Senter Road
(north of Capitol Expressway)
San Jose, CA 95111
Holiday Programs:
Special holiday programs include Senior Brunch, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, and Parent Shopping Day in December.