Join Us in Making a Difference
Whether you volunteer, donate, or simply spread the word, your support helps ensure that no one in Ames goes hungry. Every helping hand makes an impact.
New Volunteer Signup
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Food at First. Use the Sign-Up to Volunteer button to create your volunteer account and access Free Meal and Free Market volunteer shifts. Once you have created your account and logged in, use the “Opportunities” tab to access the Opportunity Calendar/Opportunity List for open shifts.
Create Volunteer Account
Current Volunteer Sign-in
Thank you for your commitment to volunteering at Food at First. Use the Current Volunteer Sign-Up link to sign in to your volunteer account and access Free Meal and Free Market volunteer shifts. Once you have logged in, use the “Opportunities” tab to access the Opportunity Calendar/Opportunity List for open shifts.
Free Market Volunteer
Food at First receives thousands of pounds of high-quality perishable food from our generous community partners. Once donations arrive, volunteers sort and prepare the items so they’re ready for shoppers. During Free Market hours, volunteers also assist guests as they browse—helping them find produce and select non-perishable items to take home to their families.
Food Prep Volunteer
Love being in the kitchen? Join our Food Prep Volunteer and help turn rescued food into delicious, healthy meals for our community and surrounding communities. Food Prep Volunteers work alongside our Head Chef and other volunteers chop vegetables, prepare ingredients, cook, and get everything ready for the daily Free Meal. It’s a great way to learn new skills, meet new people, and make an immediate impact — all while having fun in a fast-paced, team-focused kitchen. No experience is necessary — just bring a positive attitude and a willingness to help!
Server and Clean-Up Volunteer
Be part of the team that brings it all together! Our Server & Clean-Up crew helps serve the daily Free Meal and ensure everything runs smoothly for our guests. Volunteers assist with setting up the dining area, serving food with a smile, refilling drinks, and chatting with guests. After the meal, the team works together to clean up the kitchen and dining space so everything is ready for the next day. It’s a rewarding, social way to serve others and see the impact of your work firsthand. No experience required — just a friendly attitude and a heart for service!
Head Chef Volunteer
Every meal at Food at First is led by a volunteer Head Chef — a special role at the heart of our kitchen. The Head Chef plans, creates, prepares, and serves a balanced hot meal on time while keeping a team of 16 volunteers organized, engaged, and having fun.
Being a Head Chef isn’t just about cooking — it’s about community, creativity, leadership, and service. It takes someone who can think on their feet, inspire others, and turn rescued food into something delicious.
If you think you’ve got what it takes (and the mustard to match — pun intended!), we’d love to hear from you.
Gleaning Volunteer
Gathering Good Food, Feeding Our Community
For Food at First to provide food for our Free Meal and Free Market programs, volunteers gather food (“gleaning”) several times a day from a variety of sources throughout Ames and the surrounding areas. We pick up from Walmart, Sam’s Club, ISU Dining, Hy-Vee, Aldi, Panera, Chick-fil-A, Target, and many other generous donors. We also receive seasonal fresh produce from local farmers and individual community donors.
Interested in Helping?
Please note, the gleaning volunteer opportunity is for those interested in long-term commitment. If you’d like to help with gleaning, email the Volunteer Coordinator for more information.
Volunteer FAQ
If you can’t find your answer here, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator
Enter through the West Door, 611 Clark Ave, Ames, Iowa.
Park in the lot farthest from the west door so guests can use our closer lot.
- Wash your hands at the hand washing station
- Use the “Timeclock” menu tab on the website foodatfirst.com/timeclock to start your time (computers are available or you can use your phone). Every volunteer needs to timeclock in for every shift!
- Remember your username/password and timeclock in & out when you arrive & leave. Use our computer or your smartphone connected to Food at First WiFi. If using your smartphone MyImpactPage.mobile is easy for timeclocking (if connected to FoodatFirst WiFi)
- Wash your hands again and often during your volunteer shift
- If you have signed up for a Prep shift, you will be prepping food for the daily meal that day. The Head Chef will give you specific instructions.
- If you have signed up for a Serving/Clean-Up shift, you will be serving the meal and cleaning after. The Head Chef will give you specific instructions.
- If you have signed up for a Free Market shift, you will be prepping food and helping distribute items to guests during the Free Market open hours.
- Ask how you can help!
- Be patient and courteous
Once you are done with your shift, please sign out using the “Timeclock” tab on the website to end your shift (remember your username and password).
To remove yourself from a shift. Login FoodatFirst.com/login, click the Schedule tab, find the shift you are assigned to and click x Remove
You may remove yourself up to 12 hours prior to your shift, if less than 12 hours from your shift please email the volunteer coordinator (link to email)
Anyone 10 years or older is welcome to sign up for a volunteer position. A parent or adult should volunteer alongside anyone age 10 to 13.
We encourage you to have your friends and relatives sign up for a shift and volunteer with you, but please do not bring extra volunteers who have not signed up. Food at First has carefully calculated how many volunteers are needed for each shift and it is important for Food at First to have a record of volunteers.
Check back regularly as spots open up if someone has to cancel their shift. Shifts are open month by month so check back towards the end of the month to sign up for a shift. If there are no slots open, then Food at First really does not need help for that shift.
Food at First often has other “less glamorous” jobs that could be filled, such as defrosting freezers, mopping floors or deep cleaning. Please email the volunteer coordinator (link) and let us know your deadlines and when you might be available. Food at First encourages teachers/professors to have students check as far in advance as possible.
All volunteers who have not served a shift in over 6 months are archived in the Better Impact System. To start volunteering again with your same account, please email the volunteer coordinator, and we will switch your account back to active.
We encourage groups to volunteer. Group sign-up instructions are located on the ‘Get Involved’ page of our website. If you have trouble finding this section, please email the Volunteer Coordinator, Lincoln, at FoodAtFirstVC@gmail.com
The most likely reason you don’t see the Food at First Opportunities tab is because the 2nd page of the application didn’t get submitted. The 2nd part of the application process asks if you can you lift 60 pounds and what age group you are in. Maybe your internet connection had trouble before you got the 2nd page submitted; the good news is the system will remember your password and username and all the questions you answered so far.
Solution:
- Go to FoodatFirst.com
- Click Volunteer
- Click Sign Up or Sign In to Volunteer button
- A new page opens. Under I already have a username enter Username and Password. This will start the application process again. You don’t need to enter contact details – the system will remember.
- Continue with the application. Answer the questions with the flags next to them.
- At the bottom of the page click Submit Application button
- Once you Submit the Application, you will see all other tabs and can sign up for a volunteer shift
Group Volunteer Sign-Up
Want to Volunteer as a Group?
We’d love to have you! Volunteering together is a great way to build connections and serve the community at the same time. Many groups volunteer with us regularly — but one-time group volunteering is always welcome too.
When you email us to sign up as a group, your members don’t need to create individual accounts or register separately — we’ll handle everything through your group contact.
How to Sign Up a Group
1. Check the Group Volunteer Calendar
Look for open dates where another group is not already signed up. Here’s how to read the calendar:
- “Prep” or “P” – Prep Shift: 3:30–5:30 pm (or 9:30–11:15 am on Saturdays). Volunteers prep and cook food for the daily meal.
- “S/CU” – Serving/Clean-Up Shift: 5:30–7:30 pm (or 11:15 am–1:15 pm on Saturdays). Volunteers serve the meal and help with cleanup.
- “HC” – Head Chef: Sometimes a volunteer group includes someone experienced who can serve as Head Chef. If your group doesn’t have one, that’s okay — we’ll make sure a Head Chef is there to guide you.
- Tip: Choose a date that doesn’t already have a group listed for your desired shift.
2. Email Us to Sign Up
Send an email to the Volunteer Coordinator with:
- 2–3 dates that work for your group
- Which shift you’d like (Prep, Serving/Clean-Up, or both)
- The number of volunteers
- Your organization name (if applicable)
- Please include “Volunteer Group” in the subject line
3. Wait for Confirmation
You’ll receive a reply within a week. If you don’t hear back, please follow up with another email.