Give Time

Volunteers help make Second Harvest of Greater St. Joseph one of the most efficient charities around. Thanks to the help of hundreds of volunteers—who contributed more than 7,000 hours of volunteer time last year—Second Harvest is able to feed the hungry in Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas more efficiently.

We provide food for nearly 25,000 individuals each month with the support of our volunteers!

Support the distribution of more than 3.8 million pounds of food per year by volunteering individually or with a group.

FAQ

What would I do if I volunteered at Second Harvest?
Repack sessions are the most common volunteer opportunity at Second Harvest. The majority of the food that Second Harvest receives needs something done with it: repacking bulk product to family/individual size, assembling boxes with assorted food from food drives, checking expiration dates, and packing Backpack Buddies backpacks.

Also, we have Harvest House, a perishable food pantry that serves 500 families a week, open on Tuesday evenings and Friday mornings, and we are always looking for volunteers to help stock and manage the food pantry.

If you are interested in helping with special events, we have many opportunities throughout the year as well.

Please contact Donna Thompson, volunteer coordinator, for more detailed information about volunteering.

When do you have volunteer sessions?
Repack sessions are held in 1-3 hour time increments on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings by appointment. Harvest House is open on Tuesday evenings from 4-7 pm and Friday mornings from 9 am to 1pm.

How many people can I bring?
Our volunteer coordinator, Donna Thompson, 816.364.3663 x 209, schedules volunteers based on the needs in the warehouse as well as the number of people needed to complete the projects needed. The number of people in your group will affect the project assigned. Typically, we can accommodate groups up to 12 people. Please know we can work with you depending on the size of group.

What should I wear?
Volunteers must wear pants and closed-toe shoes to work in the warehouse. Jeans and sneakers are best. During the summer and winter months, we suggest you dress appropriately for the season.

How old do I have to be to volunteer?
Volunteers need to be 16 years or older to volunteer at Second Harvest without adult supervision. Ages 14-16 can volunteer with an adult. Second Harvest has opportunities for kids ages 5-14, but please contact Donna Thompson for more information at 816.364.3663 x 209.

Do I have to schedule in advance or can I just show up to volunteer?
All volunteering must be scheduled in advance.