Volunteer as a group during strike out hunger

Food Bank for the Heartland volunteers are the heart of our organization — the dedicated individuals, families, civic and corporate groups who offer their time and talents to support our mission, helping to ensure that people across our service area receive the nutritious food they need. In FY 2023, our volunteers donated 39,800 hours of service to the Food Bank—the equivalent nearly 20 full-time employees! We’re grateful for every minute of their time.

To get the most out of this campaign, including valuable tips and tricks, download the 2024 Strike Out Hunger toolkit here (updated file coming soon).

View the Strike Out Hunger main page.

don't forget about our new Monday afternoon shift from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.

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

Yes. Please reserve your volunteer time using the form above. For other questions, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at 402.331.1213 or Volunteer@FoodBankHeartland.org.

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 45 people per shift, based on availability.

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

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.