Wanting to volunteer as a group? We’d love to have you. It is a great way to get to know each other and serve the community at the same time! There are a number of groups that volunteer on a regular basis. You can also do it as a one-time thing.

When you email us to sign up as a group, your members don’t need to create accounts or sign up individually.

How to sign up a group:

1. First, check the Group Volunteer Calendar below, to find dates where another group is not already signed up. How to read the calendar:
   • “Prep” or “P” is for the Prep Shift. This is the 3:30-5:30 pm shift (9:30-11:15 am on Saturdays) where the food is prepped and cooked for the daily meal. 
   • “S/CU” is for the Serving/Clean-Up shift. This is the 5:30-7:30 pm shift (11:15-1:15 pm on Saturdays) where the meal is served and then cleanup tasks are done.
   • If a group is already signed up for the Prep or Clean-Up shift on a day, then this will be marked. Look for days that are not marked with a group name already.
   • “HC” is Head Chef. Sometimes volunteer groups have someone experienced with volunteering at Food at First who can serve in the Head Chef position and this is marked on the calendar as such. Don’t worry if you don’t – in that case a Head Chef will be there to guide you. (Even if a day in the calendar doesn’t have an individual’s name as Head Chef yet, there will be one.)
2. Email our Volunteer Coordinator, Lincoln, FoodAtFirstVC@gmail.com with:
   • 2-3 dates that work for your group
   • Which shift you want to do (Prep, Serving/Clean-Up, or both)
   • Number of volunteers you will have
   • Organization you are affiliated with (if applicable)
   • Please include Volunteer Group on the subject line.
3. You should expect a reply within a week – if you do not see one, please feel free to email again.

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What’s the minimum number of volunteers to sign up as a group? What’s the maximum?
We usually aim for 6 people for Prep and 10 for Serving/Clean-Up. Smaller groups are welcome—we’ll open the remaining spots to individuals from outside your group to sign up. If you have a group larger than these numbers, Lincoln will discuss with you when you email her.

What if some people in our group cannot make it last-minute?
Please do your best to find someone else from your group who can fill in. If that fails, please email FoodAtFirstVC@gmail.com with as much notice as possible.

How far in advance should I contact you to schedule a volunteer group?
Please reach out at least a few weeks ahead. If shorter than this, we might not be able to reserve the shift just for your group—others may have already signed up. (At the end of each month, we open next month’s shifts to individual volunteers if no group is scheduled yet.)