Non-Profit Food Rescue
with Our Volunteers Help

Food Finders rescued over 22 million pounds of food in 2022.

99% of that rescued food gets delivered immediately from the food donor location to one of our recipient agencies who prepares and distributes it within 24 hours to those in need.

How to Become am Volunteer
  • Please fill out the volunteer application linked HERE.
  • Our Volunteer Coordinator will contact you to setup your orientation.
  • After finishing your orientation, you will be provided with a volunteer opportunity that matches your schedule and abilities.

You can be a part of this important work!

If you have questions about volunteering, contact Isabella Gomez igomez@foodfinders.org or call (562) 283-1400 x 112

Food Finders Volunteer Opportunities

  • Warehouse Volunteer: Volunteer in our warehouse and help us sort donations, prepare family boxes, and distribute food to our partner nonprofit agencies.
  • Food Rescue Hero: Help reduce food waste and hunger by collecting surplus food from businesses and donating it to local nonprofits in your area.
  • Food 4 Kids Volunteer: Pack weekend meal bags for students across the LBUSD schools district to take home on Fridays to supplement their weekend meals.
  • Community Marketplace Volunteers: The fourth Saturday of every month we need volunteers to help assemble grocery food bags from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM for distribution.
  • Start a Food Drive: Collect food and hygiene items for our family box and distribution efforts at your office, school, home, or space.
  • Event Volunteer: Throughout the year we have large events and food drives that always require volunteers to help before, during, and after the events.
  • Administrative Volunteer: Join us as an Administrative Volunteer at our Los Alamitos office, where you can contribute your valuable skills to assist the Food Finders team with essential office tasks.
Why Volunteer At Food Finders?

Volunteering in America is a longstanding tradition that has made significant contributions to communities, organizations, and individuals. By dedicating your time and energy, you can help Food Finders in our mission to rescue edible foods, combat hunger in the community, and protect the environment by preventing food waste. Participating in this meaningful endeavor will leave you with a sense of pride and fulfillment.

Food Finders, deeply rooted in Southern California’s stunning landscape, operates in Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles counties. By joining our cause, you will contribute to preserving the region’s natural beauty and caring for the local community by providing nourishment to families in need. Whether you are an individual, a family, a business, or an organized group, you are welcome to volunteer with Food Finders. We offer various opportunities for short-term and long-term commitments, allowing you to find a volunteering experience that suits your availability and interests!

What are the benefits of being a volunteer?

  • Gaining knowledge about food waste and its environmental impact, and understanding the value of repurposing food for the benefit of food-insecure communities.
  • Meeting like-minded individuals.
  • Volunteering allows you to engage with the outdoors and learn about various nonprofits dedicated to Southern California residents.

Even though Food Finders’ volunteers are not direct employees, a simple application and guidance are provided to ensure inclusion in desired opportunities. Although volunteers contribute their services without pay, they may deduct out-of-pocket expenses on income tax returns within limits set by tax laws. Please consult a tax representative to determine if you can deduct car mileage expenses incurred from volunteer work. Learn more

Volunteer Application
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Corporate Volunteering Form

VOLUNTEERING

Corporate volunteerism is a workplace-supported initiative that enables and encourages employees to participate in and volunteer their time and resources to give back to the community. Food Finders offers an opportunity for teams to have fun sorting and packing donated foods to help in our operations.

Sapphire Technologies came to the Food Finder’s warehouse to help us pack up Food 4 Kids bags during the last few weeks of school before the holidays.  These bags would be delivered to 22 schools, providing critical weekend meals.

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Donate To Make An Impact

Volunteer FAQ

How do I signup to volunteer?

To become a volunteer, please fill out our volunteer application which can be found here, or reach out to Carly Bragg cbragg@foodfinders.org  or call (562) 283-1400 x 113

Can I walk into your warehouse and begin volunteering?

All volunteer sessions will need to be scheduled ahead of time. At this time, we are not allowing walk-ins. Please contact Carly Bragg cbragg@foodfinders.org  or call (562) 283-1400 x 113

Will I receive any training before I begin volunteering?

Upon signing up, you will be given all of our training materials to review. However, would like to receive in-depth training, please contact Carly Bragg cbragg@foodfinders.org  or call (562) 283-1400 x 113

Can I volunteer just once or will I need to commit to a schedule?

You are free to volunteer as often or as little as you would like. There is no set schedule required. Carly Bragg cbragg@foodfinders.org  or call (562) 283-1400 x 113

Is there an age requirement to volunteer?

Although we don’t have an age requirement to volunteer, anyone under the age of 16 must have a parent or guardian present with them during their volunteer opportunity.

Is there an age requirement to volunteer for Food Rescues?

Volunteers of all ages are welcome to participate in our Food Rescue program. However, the driver must have a valid driver’s license and valid vehicle insurance.

What is a “Food Rescue”?

A Food Rescue is the pick-up and delivery of food donations from a food donor to a nonprofit partner agency.

Do I need a large vehicle for food rescues?

No, a large vehicle is not required to participate in our Food Rescue Program. Our Food Finders App will indicate the volume of each food donation to help ensure your vehicle has the capacity to hold the donation.

What volunteer opportunities does Food Finders offer?

Food Finders offers a variety of ways for volunteers to contribute to our organization.

Food Rescue Volunteers: These volunteer’s role is the rescue surplus food from restaurants, supermarkets, and other food businesses and drop off those donations to a charity in need. This is the perfect opportunity for anyone looking to spend an hour or two daily, weekly, or spontaneously when you have time. You will need to have access to a car for this opportunity.

Office Volunteers: Do you have a background in office or clerical work? We’re always looking for people to help us with database cleanup, digital thank you’s, donor and recipient agency phone calls, and other related office work. We can provide the technology if you provide the knowledge, what do you say?

Warehouse Volunteers: Help us sort and organize food donations in our warehouse for distribution. This is a great opportunity for groups, students, families, or individuals.

Food4Kids Volunteers: Deliver bags or totes of non-perishable food items to local Long Beach schools weekly. You will be assigned a school and a certain amount of bags to drop off at a specified location each week.

If I run into a problem on a Food Rescue, who can I contact?

Please contact Carly Bragg cbragg@foodfinders.org  or call (562) 283-1400 x 113

Will I receive a verification of my volunteer hours or if I am doing community service hours?

Yes, Food Finders is happy to sign off on any required service hours once completed. A verification letter can also be made available upon request.