Share your time and talents as a volunteer
Food Bank for the Heartland volunteers are the heart of our organization—helping to ensure that neighbors across our service area receive the nutritious food they need. In FY 2024, our volunteers donated 52,497 hours of service—the equivalent of nearly 26 full-time employees! We could not deploy our mission without their ongoing commitment.
Learn more about volunteering with the Food Bank, including common volunteer projects, age requirements, and recommended attire, in our Volunteer FAQs section.
WEATHER ALERT: The Food Bank and Volunteer Center will be CLOSED on Saturday, December 14. The 9am volunteer shift has been canceled. Please stay tuned here for the latest updates. Thank you!
WEATHER ALERT: The Food Bank and Volunteer Center will be CLOSED on Saturday, December 14. The 9am volunteer shift has been canceled. Please stay tuned here for the latest updates. Thank you!
WEATHER ALERT: In anticipation of dangerous wind and cold, our Volunteer Center, warehouse, and offices located at 10525 J Street in Omaha will be closed SATURDAY, JANUARY 20. Updates will be posted here as they develop. Stay safe!
In recognition of Independence Day, the Food Bank, including our Volunteer Center, will be closed Thursday, July 4. We will resume regular hours on Friday, July 5.
The Volunteer Center will be closed on Friday, July 28, 2023 and will resume regular hours on Saturday, July 29.
Sign up for our new Monday afternoon shift from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.—and all of our other shifts—below. Individuals and groups welcome!
CONSTRUCTION ALERT: Starting Wednesday, Dec. 13, a crew will be performing concrete work on our loading docks. We expect little to no disruption to the flow of traffic, but please exercise caution when driving to and from our volunteer parking lot. Thank you!
Individuals and Families
You do not need to be part of a larger group to volunteer with Food Bank for the Heartland. Whether you’re on your own, with your family, or a small group of friends, volunteering your time can be a fun and productive way to make a difference—whether it’s one time, a few hours each month, or once a year. Once you register, we’ll provide detailed information on how you’ll be helping and where you’ll need to be. We look forward to having you on our volunteer team!
Volunteer Center Hours:
Morning shift |
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (Tuesday – Saturday) |
Afternoon Shift |
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Monday – Friday) |
Evening Shift |
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Tuesday) |
Closed Sundays |
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register below (for groups of five or more, please click on the green tab above)
Groups and Organizations
For corporate, civic, youth, faith-based, and other groups, volunteering at Food Bank for the Heartland is a wonderful way to strengthen bonds, build camaraderie and unite for a great cause.
Once you’ve completed your group application, our volunteer coordinator will follow up with you to determine a suitable volunteer activity, date, and time based upon your group size and availability. We can accommodate groups of 3 to 45 people. If you have questions, please contact our volunteer coordinator at [email protected] or 402.331.1213.
Volunteer Center Hours:
Morning shift |
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (Tuesday – Saturday) |
Afternoon Shift |
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Monday – Friday) |
Evening Shift |
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Tuesday) |
Closed Sundays |
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Please fill out the group volunteer form below to get started.
Group Volunteer Form
Morning shift |
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (Tuesday – Saturday) |
Afternoon Shift |
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Monday – Friday) |
Evening Shift |
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Tuesday) |
Closed Sundays |
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Yes. Please reserve your volunteer time using the form above in Individuals and Families tab. For group reservations, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at 402.331.1213 or [email protected].
Volunteer shifts in the Volunteer Center range from 2 to 2.5 hours depending on the day. If you cannot stay for the full duration of the volunteer shift, we ask you notify our volunteer coordinator in advance.
Food Bank for the Heartland can accommodate up to 50 people per shift, based on availability.
Most definitely! We request that you schedule your visit in advance using the form above under the Individuals and Families tab. You can come for a one-time volunteer experience or a recurring shift.
Children and teens ages 10-15 may volunteer with adult supervision with a ratio of 1 adult to every 5 youth.
Yes. Food Bank for the Heartland can verify service hours for non-legal purposes. Please notify staff when scheduling your reservation.
Yes. Volunteers of all abilities are welcome. Please let us know about your individual or group’s special needs when making your reservation. Please contact the volunteer coordinator before scheduling a shift.
Disposable water bottles are available for volunteers in the Volunteer Center. Water fountains are located just down the hall from the Volunteer Center. No outside food or beverages are allowed in the Volunteer Center due to food safety considerations.
Yes. If your group would like to bring in lunch, please contact the volunteer coordinator before making your reservation for a shift.
Volunteers are encouraged to wear casual clothing (jeans, shorts, t-shirts) and are required to wear close-toed shoes. For safety purposes, open-toed shoes (including flip flops and sandals) are not allowed. We suggest dressing in layers as the Volunteer Center may experience cooler temperatures.
Projects in the Volunteer Center are critical to our mission of eliminating hunger in the Heartland by ensuring consistent access to healthy food through community partnerships. Projects typically reflect the preparation needed to transport and distribute food to our pantry partners. That might include:
- Sorting donated product
- Packaging fresh produce
- Packing food packs for the BackPack Program
- Repackaging bulk donated products
- Special projects the Food Bank has identified to support distribution
Featured Story
Volunteer Stories
From longtime supporters to new volunteers, each Food Bank for the Heartland volunteer brings their own story and a unique reason for wanting to lend a hand. Read about the experiences of Food Bank volunteers, and find out why they love volunteering with the Food Bank.
We are grateful for the community’s interest in our mission, and often get requests for interviews for school projects. If you’re a student working on a project and would like to speak with a member of the Food Bank staff, we ask that we receive questions in writing at least one week in advance of your due date. Requests will be accommodated based on staff availability. Thank you!
