VOLUNTEERS
EYFP is a volunteer driven service organization. In 2022, nearly 350 volunteers logged over 15,000 hours and we are well on our way to surpass that amazing number this year.
Volunteer opportunities include serving our clients, food recovery and restocking, unloading food deliveries, and driving to pick up large food donations from our grocery partners.
INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS.
We currently accept volunteers (age 20+ and 16+ for High School NHS hours) who are residents in our service area (Elmhurst, Bensenville, Addison, Lombard, Villa Park, Hillside, Berkeley, Oakbrook Terrace, and Oakbrook) or a college student in one of these communities. We are unable to accept court mandated community service requests.
To maintain a safe and healthy environment, we ask volunteers to stay home if not feeling well (even if a “minor” sore throat). Volunteers are welcome to wear a mask if they are immunocompromised.
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:
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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.
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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.
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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 pm - 8:00 pm
Thursday:12:45 pm - 4:00 pm
Thursday: 6:15 pm - 8:00 pm
Saturday: 9:15 am - 12:30 pm
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
Recovery/Restocking Shifts:
Monday: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Tuesday: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Wednesday: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Thursday: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Friday: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Saturday: 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Volunteer
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: 9:45 am -11:30 am
Tuesday: 8:45 am - 10:30 am;10:30 am - 11:45 am
Wednesday: 9:45 am - 11:30 am
Thursday: 9:45 am - 11:30 am
Friday: 8:45 am - 10:15 am;10:30 am - 11:45 am
Saturday: 7:45 am - 9:15 am;10:30 - 11:45 am
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 for approximately 2 hours; lifting is involved
Truck Deliveries:
2nd Tuesday:10:30 am - 11:30 pm
4th Tuesday: 8:00 am - 9:30 am
GROUP
VOLUNTEERS.
Interested in volunteering as a team?
EYFP has limited opportunities for adult groups of 3-6 including pre-pack of items for our Mobile Food Pantry, helping with distribution at our outdoor Mobile Pantry on the 3rd Saturday of the month, and Saturday Client Service/Food Distribution. Please send an email to volunteercoordinator@eyfp.org to inquire about current opportunities.
Scout
Troops
EYFP offers opportunities for scout troops to hold a food drive followed by a 30-minute tour at the pantry to learn what we do and shelve the donated food in the shopping room.
We are only able to accommodate a limited number of these visits in the following time periods:
Monday: 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Wednesday: 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Friday: 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Interested troops please fill out the field trip request form and be sure to indicate a first and second choice of days to have your tour.
Someone will contact you to schedule.
Northern Illinois
Food Bank
The Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB) in Geneva, IL offers many more group opportunities. As one of our key partners, by helping NIFB you are helping EYFP and many more neighbors in need. They invite you to sign up to bring a team to volunteer at any of their four Centers in Geneva, Joliet, Lake Forest or Rockford. Volunteers must be at least 8 years old for their Food Sort & Pack opportunities and 12 years old for their Grocery Distribution opportunities.
Check out NIFB's Team Volunteering page for more details by clicking below.