Volunteer
Volunteers are the heart of the South Portland Food Cupboard. By giving your time and energy, you help ensure that local families and individuals have access to nutritious food when they need it most. Whether you're stocking shelves, assisting with food distribution, or helping with special events, every hour you spend with us makes a difference in our community.
We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, ages*, and skill levels—join us in the fight against hunger and become part of a team dedicated to making a positive impact! Our motto for volunteers is: "Come when you can; leave when you need."We appreciate every moment you can give!
*We ask that volunteers 16 years and under have an adult present with them when volunteering.
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Thank you for your interest in volunteering at South Portland Food Cupboard! We rely on volunteers like you to help us serve our community! After applying to volunteer and getting approved by our team, you will get an onboarding email which allow you to sign up for a shift. We use SignUpGenius to make it easy for you to choose a time that works with your schedule.
To ensure all volunteers are familiar with our mission and safety guidelines, we require each volunteer to complete a Volunteer Application and go through a brief training/orientation on their first day. After, you will then be paired with a volunteer who will be able to guide you further and answer any questions you might have.
What does volunteering look like?
Volunteer opportunities at the South Portland Food Cupboard (SPFC) are available throughout the week, with designated hours to fit a variety of schedules. Volunteers are needed Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm, on Saturdays from 7:30 am to 9:30 am, and Sundays from 6:30 am to 9:00 am.
Food Rescue efforts take place every day of the week, involving pickup, cleaning, and processing of donations. Mondays focus on pickup, cleaning, and preparation, while Tuesdays include food pickup, processing, and public food distribution from 10:30 am to noon, with recipients welcome to come weekly. Wednesdays are dedicated to pickup, processing, and preparation for upcoming distributions, including an evening distribution on the first Wednesday of each month (5:00–6:30 pm) for those unable to attend on Thursdays. Additionally, food deliveries occur on the second Wednesday morning of each month. Thursdays host a morning distribution from 8:30 to 11:00 am. Fridays and Saturdays continue with pickup and processing, while Sundays involve early pickup and putting food away. Van drivers and helpers should be ready to depart SPFC by 6:30 am each day to ensure timely operations.
Ready to sign up?
New Volunteers
Can recipients of food also volunteer?
Current food recipients are welcome and encouraged to volunteer at SPFC, with the simple requirement that they do not volunteer on distribution days—making Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays ideal options.
Current Volunteers
Thank you so much for your continued dedication and support as a volunteer at the South Portland Food Cupboard! We truly appreciate everything you do to help our community. To keep you informed and make it easier for you to stay involved, we send out weekly emails with updates, the Sign-Up Genius link, schedules, and other important information. If you’re not receiving these emails, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at the office by emailing info@southportlandfoodcupboard.org, and we’ll make sure you’re added to the list. We want to ensure you have all the info you need to continue making a difference!
Need Help?
Volunteer as a Group
Inquire today!
Volunteering as a group is a great way to make a meaningful impact at the South Portland Food Cupboard. We welcome organizations, businesses, schools, and community groups to come together and help with tasks like food sorting, packing, and distribution.
To ensure a smooth and rewarding experience for everyone, we ask that group volunteers contact us in advance to schedule a time that works best for your team. We can provide specific instructions on the tasks available, along with any necessary guidelines to ensure a productive day. Whether it's a one-time event or ongoing volunteer days, we’re here to make sure your group has a positive and impactful experience. If you’re interested in volunteering as a group, please reach out to us at info@southportlandfoodcupboard.org to arrange the details. We look forward to working with you to support our community!
Community Service
Community service at the South Portland Food Cupboard is an opportunity for individuals to complete court-appointed service hours while giving back to the community. If you need to fulfill these hours, we ask that you first call our office during office hours (Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 11:00 am) and request to speak with Dwayne Hopkins, our Executive Director. Dwayne will have a conversation with you to discuss the guidelines, expectations, and available tasks to ensure a smooth and productive experience.