Volunteer FAQ

VOLUNTEER FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What are your health and COVID-19 policies for volunteer events?

See our Health and COVID-19 Policy.

What if I need to cancel at the last minute because I feel sick or have been around someone who is sick?

No problem. Please click on the cancellation link sent in the confirmation or reminder emails, and stay home!Please click on the cancellation link sent in the confirmation or reminder emails, and stay home!

Will there be handwashing stations available?

Unfortunately, most events will not have handwashing stations available. However, hand sanitizer will be available. Please wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water before and after the event.

What do volunteers do?

Most of our volunteers help us recover and donate fresh produce at various locations. Volunteers should be comfortable being on their feet throughout the shift and carrying boxes of fruits and vegetables. Below are a few different types of volunteer events!

What type of tools will I be using to harvest fruit at a Backyard Harvest event?

Each property we harvest has different conditions. We cannot guarantee that there will be shade or that the ground will be flat and even. The type of tools you may need to use (your hands, hand clippers/pruners, fruit picker, extended fruit picker, and extended pruner) depends upon the type of fruit and where the fruit is located on the trees.

I just signed up to volunteer on your website! What happens next?

You’re on your way to fighting hunger and food waste with us! You will receive an email confirming that you’re signed up. Check your inbox (or your spam folder if you don’t see it!) for a confirmation email from [email protected]. You will also receive reminder emails with meet-up instructions and other important details.

Will there be a restroom?

Many of our volunteer events do not have restrooms available or public restrooms nearby. Generally, volunteer events that are longer than 2 hours take place at a location with a restroom nearby. Most of our volunteer events that are 2 hours or less do not have a restroom available to volunteers. Please feel free to contact us in advance if you have questions or concerns.

Do I need to bring anything?

The majority of our produce recovery events take place outside, so we always recommend bringing water and sunscreen or a hat. Feel free to bring gardening gloves and bug spray if you’d like. Please wear clothes you are comfortable in and don’t mind getting dirty, as well as closed-toe shoes. Otherwise, we supply all equipment needed!

Do I need to transport any of the fruits or vegetables in my car?

Nope! We arrange transportation with the agency receiving the food or with the Volunteer Event Leader.

Can I leave early or come late to an event?

No. While we understand how busy you are, we do require that volunteers stay for the entire time. Most of our events have very small volunteer teams, and we need all hands on deck!

What is the minimum age to volunteer?

5 for Backyard Harvest events and 12 for Farmers Market Recovery events. Volunteers under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who registers for the event as well and stays for its entirety.

Can I bring my baby?

We do not allow babies at our volunteer events for safety reasons. The minimum age to volunteer is 5 for Backyard Harvest events and 12 for Farmers Market Recovery events. Volunteers under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who registers and stays.

Can I bring my friend, spouse, child, or other family member?

Yes, they just need to sign up to volunteer for the same event. We cannot accept walk-up volunteers; all must be registered in advance.

Can I volunteer with a group?

If you’re volunteering with a group larger than 5, fill out our Group Volunteer Form. We’ll reach out if we can accommodate.

What if my child doesn’t have an email address?

If you’ve already registered, you can register your child using a placeholder email address like [email protected].

Can I bring my pet? What about my service animal?

Please leave pets at home. For service animals, contact [email protected] to coordinate.

Why don’t volunteers get to take a little of the recovered food home?

100% of the food is donated to hunger relief agencies. This ensures transparency and fairness to donors.

How do I know how much food I collected and where it went?

The Event Leader can tell you where it goes. You’ll also receive a follow-up email with the details.

Can I complete my community service hours with Food Forward?

Yes! We recommend signing up early as events fill quickly. Hours can be signed off after volunteering.

Will you sign my community service form for school?

Yes. Bring your form or email [email protected] after the event.

I want to get more involved! What do I do?

Visit this page to learn about becoming a Volunteer Event Leader.

How can I spread the word and get more people involved?

Post on local platforms or social media. Here’s our posting language.

Do you cancel events if the weather is bad?

We cancel for heavy rain, extreme heat, or unsafe air. Otherwise, events proceed. You’ll be notified in case of cancellation.