Volunteer Eligibility and Procedures

EYFP is not currently accepting volunteer requests from anyone under the age of 20 (age 17+ for High School NHS hours). We also are not able to accept court-mandated community service requests at this time. We appreciate your understanding as we work to protect the health of our established volunteers and the safety of the pantry for our clients who rely on our services.

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EYFP also has implemented modified service procedures in order to maintain a safe and healthy environment. Volunteers’ are asked to stay home if not feeling well (even if a 'minor' sore throat), and wear a mask when working directly with clients.

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Client Service

Effective May 4, 2020, EYFP implemented a “client choice” service model in order to better meet taste preferences and reduce food waste. Volunteers during client service shifts perform the following tasks:

• As clients arrive at the pantry’s drive-up distribution, volunteers provide clients with today's available items on a pre-printed shopping list. Clients complete the order form and a volunteer picks up their order all while clients remain in their car.

• Volunteers use a shopping cart, select and package clients’ requested food items inside the pantry, then deliver the completed order to clients' parked vehicle placing items into the trunk. Volunteers are not permitted to enter any client vehicles.

• Clients are required to stay in their vehicle.

Note: You must be able to stand/walk for 1.5-3 hours depending on the shift

 

Client Service Shifts: [Start times are for volunteer arrival for prep/coordination; client shopping starts 15 minutes later]

Monday:   6:15-8:00pm

Thursday:  12:45-4:00pm

Thursday:  6:15-8:00pm

Saturday:  9:15am-12:30pm

 

Recovery / Restocking

EYFP has a continuing flow of food items that have to be processed, sorted, and stocked in preparation for client shopping days.

Note: You must be able to stand/walk for 2-3 hours; some lifting is involved

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Recovery/Restocking Shifts:

Monday:        10:00am-12:00pm

Tuesday:         10:00am-12:30pm

Wednesday:   10:30am-12:30pm 

Thursday:       10:00am-12:00pm

Friday:           10:00am-12:30pm

Saturday:       12:30pm-1:30pm

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Drivers

EYFP reclaims perishable foods that still have 4-5 days of viability from local retailers.  Drivers use the EYFP van for pickups.

Note: You must be at least 21, have a valid IL drivers license, and be able to lift cases that weigh up to 50 pounds

 

Driver Shifts:

Monday: 9:45am-11:30am

Tuesday:   8:45am-10:30am; 10:30am-11:45am

Wednesday: 9:45am-11:30am

Thursday: 9:45am-11:30am

Friday:    8:45am-10:15am; 10:30am-11:45am

Saturday:  7:45am-9:15am; 10:30-11:45am

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Truck Deliveries

EYFP uses charitable cash donations to purchase food from the Northern Illinois Food Bank twice each month. Deliveries are on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Pallet load quantities of food items are sorted and moved into storage or stocked on market shelves on these delivery days.

Note: You must be able to stand/walk required for approximately 2 hours; lifting is involved

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Truck Deliveries:

2nd Tuesday: 10:30am-11:30pm

4th Tuesday: 8:00-9:30am

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