Volunteer With Us!
Opportunities at the
Community FoodBank of New Jersey
Our volunteer program gives individuals, families and groups of many sizes a meaningful opportunity to make a direct impact on hunger in a positive and safe environment.
The CFBNJ locations in Hillside, Egg Harbor Township, and Garfield are currently accepting volunteers.
CFBNJ Volunteer Program Impact:
Last year, our volunteers made over 31,000 site visits, dedicating nearly 80,000 hours to our cause (that’s equivalent to 38 full-time employees). We couldn’t do the work we do without our dedicated volunteers.
What You Need To Know About Volunteering
All volunteers under 18 years of age must have volunteer waivers signed by a parent or guardian. Volunteers aged 12-15 years old must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or chaperone during their volunteer service. In Garfield, pantry day volunteers must be 18 or older. Garfield delivery day volunteers follow the same guidelines as above.
Most needed food items:
- Canned fish & meat (tuna, chicken, ham)
- Shelf stable milk
- Boxed meals (pasta, cereal, rice, potatoes)
- Canned & packaged meals (max & cheese, chili, soups)
- Peanut butter (plastic jars only)
- Canned vegetables & fruits
- Diapers & feminine hygiene products
- *no glass, cellophane, bottled water, soda, or baby food
Advance sign-ups are required (no walk-ins)
Each volunteer will need to sign up on CFBNJ volunteer signup page in advance by creating an account in VolunteerHub and registering for the shifts they wish to attend. There needs to be one slot available for each volunteer signing up, and every volunteer must have their own registration. For example, for a family of 3, there will need to be 3 open volunteer slots for the selected date and time, and 3 separate registrations will need to be completed.
Cancellations: Volunteers can easily cancel a shift if necessary, from your confirmation or reminder emails where it says, "Need to Cancel?"
Volunteers can also cancel from within their Volunteer Hub account. Sign into your VolunteerHub account using your username and password. Click on "My Schedule," then click on the shift that you would like to cancel. Next, click on "Cancel Registration" and follow the prompts.
Please note, each shift needs to be cancelled individually.
Are the sign up processes the same for all locations?
Yes. Individuals and families can register for volunteer shifts for any of our locations on our CFBNJ volunteer signup page.
To register a group, please complete the appropriate Group Intake Form:
How do I volunteer with a group?
We welcome groups and do our best to accommodate requests for volunteer groups. Groups must be pre-scheduled and all members of the group must register in advance of their shift. To request a time for your volunteer group to visit CFBNJ, please fill out the appropriate Group Intake Form:
What will I be doing?
If you are volunteering at our Hillside location, you might assist with a variety of tasks including sorting and repacking food items, assembling our Emergency Food boxes and Senior boxes, packaging bulk product into family-sized bags, and helping with office work and data entry tasks.
If you are volunteering at our Egg Harbor Township (EHT) location, you might stock shelves or help our neighbors who are visiting our Community Assistance Pantry. In EHT, volunteers also repack food items, sort produce, and assemble boxes of food.
If you are volunteering at our Garfield Unity Pantry location, you might stock shelves, help our neighbors shopping check out, sort food items, or unload a pallet.
Learn more about what you can expect on our Volunteer FAQ page.
What should I wear?
Dress is casual and comfortable (remember that the warehouse is not temperature controlled).
The following items are not allowed in the warehouse:
- Open-toe shoes, heels, sandals or flip flops
- Short shorts/skirts, tank tops, bare midriffs, or revealing clothing
- Bags of any kind – purses, backpacks, cross body, etc.
- Any controversial clothing that contains messages that can be considered derogatory, insulting or otherwise disrespectful to employees or visitors.
NOTE: It is best not to bring your valuables to the warehouse. However, we do have some lockers available for your use, if necessary. CFBNJ is not responsible for missing personal belongings. We respect the right to inspect all bags that are brought into the building.
What happens if I’m late?
We ask that volunteers arrive 15 minutes prior to the shift start time to allow time for parking and check-in.
To prevent disruption of volunteer activities that have already begun
- Volunteers who arrive after the project has started may be asked to wait until additional volunteers arrive.
- Group members who arrive after the start of the project may not be placed with the rest of their group.
- Volunteers who are more than 30 minutes late may not be able to join a warehouse project that has already started. Volunteers who arrive 30 minutes or more after the start of the shift may be given an administrative task or can reschedule for another date/time.
- If you know that you or a member of your party will be late, please contact your volunteer coordinator to inform them. Use these links to email your coordinator:
We understand that traffic, weather, and other circumstances may cause volunteers to be late, but we ask that volunteers plan ahead so they can be on time and ensure maximum productivity and satisfaction during volunteer activities.
Volunteering at CFBNJ Egg Harbor Township
Volunteering at CFBNJ Hillside
Corporate
Volunteer Opportunities
Corporate volunteer groups, representing the FoodBank’s most important mission delivery partners, are always a welcome presence at CFBNJ. Our volunteer activities provide a unique opportunity for companies to give back and foster employee engagement while making a direct impact on hunger and raising awareness about important issues facing so many of our New Jersey neighbors. Corporate volunteer groups engage in a range of activities.
At our Hillside location, they might:
- Sort and repack donated food and other items
- Assemble Senior Food Boxes
- Package bulk products such as pasta
- Make meals in our kitchen
At our Egg Harbor Township location, they might:
- Sort and repack donated food, produce, and other items
- Help at our on-site or mobile pantries, providing food directly to our neighbors in need
At our Garfield location:
Our group and corporate activities are limited due to the capacity of the pantry. However, we do have moderate sized groups (8-12 MAX) help with restocking and unloading deliveries on Wednesdays, and also have had groups “take over” the pantry on shopping days, which include all the regular activities (restocking, helping neighbors check out, sort food items, etc.).
Corporate groups may request a volunteer date by completing these forms. A Volunteer team member will follow up with you for next steps.
Women Fighting Hunger
Women Fighting Hunger supports the goals and priorities of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey by providing Food, Help, and Hope through hands-on philanthropy, leadership, and collaboration. The group supports CFBNJ programs while engaging members and the broader community in the fight against hunger, raising both critical funds and awareness. Opportunities to get involved are flexible and can be tailored to a variety of interests, skills, and time commitments.
Through its dedicated volunteers, Women Fighting Hunger has supported a wide range of CFBNJ initiatives, including advocacy, college pantry partnerships, communications, hygiene and food drives, Child Nutrition programs, Workforce Development Career Assistance, Network Grant Support, stewardship, Students Change Hunger, and the annual Turkey Drive.
Emerging Leaders
CFBNJ’s Emerging Leaders is a group of young professionals in New Jersey committed to ending hunger. (Hillside location only)
CFBNJ’s Emerging Leaders group contributes innovative ideas and resources to facilitate CFBNJ’s mission through advocacy, awareness, and financial support.
Why Join the Emerging Leaders?
- Experience rewarding engagement in ending hunger in New Jersey
- Create deep and lasting ties to CFBNJ
- Tap into individual skills and experience
- Build a sense of community with other young professionals with opportunities for education, enrichment, and personal growth
Junior Volunteer Days (Formerly Family Days)
Junior Volunteer Days allow kids aged 6-11 to volunteer with their parents.
Junior Volunteer Dates
Saturday, July 11, 9am-11am or 11:30am-1:30pm
Saturday, August 8, 9am-11am or 11:30am-1:30pm
Youth Volunteer Opportunities
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey offers a variety of innovative programs dedicated to educating children, teens, and young adults about hunger and poverty. We also provide them with the tools to make meaningful changes in their communities. There are many ways for youth to get involved, either on their own or with guidance from their parents and teachers.
The Care Crew
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey in Hillside offers a Volunteer Ambassador program, known as the Care Crew. The Care Crew consists of trained volunteers who support CFBNJ staff to provide guidance, information, and gratitude to volunteer groups (corporate, school, community) in the warehouse.
Care Crew members are asked to make a one-year commitment which includes an application, interview, orientation session, and a minimum of two volunteer shifts in Hillside per month. Candidates should have already completed two volunteer shifts at the Hillside warehouse before they apply to join the Care Crew.
Care Crew duties include:
- Working with staff to greet and sign-in groups
- Provide a project overview, if staff is unavailable
- Circulating among the group during the volunteer activity to answer questions about the project or CFBNJ
- Learning how to support various projects – food Sorting, box building, and pasta
- Obtaining strong knowledge of CFBNJ’s mission, priorities, and programs
- Thanking volunteer groups at the end of the shift
Contact Volunteer Services
To submit a question or inquiry, please fill out the form below and a member of our Volunteer Services team will reach out to you.