Volunteer with NH Food Bank

Volunteers bring their hearts and their hands to their work at the New Hampshire Food Bank. Their efforts are vital to our mission of feeding our neighbors experiencing hunger throughout New Hampshire.

In 2024, our volunteers dedicated more than 25,394 hours to the NH Food Bank! Our warehouse and office are abuzz with hunger-relief activity and your help is needed more than ever!

Please note: Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian while volunteering for the NH Food Bank.

Questions? Contact our volunteer coordinator, Ashley, at 603.669.9725 ext. 1131 or email amoulton@nhfoodbank.org.

Individual Opportunities

  • Mobile Food Pantries

    Please note: Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian while volunteering for the NH Food Bank.

    When: Locations and times vary. To see available opportunities, visit: www.nhfoodbank.volunteerhub.com

    About: This is a drive thru style event! Volunteers help food bank staff distribute meals to families by loading cars with food in boxes, weighing up to 30-35 pounds. Additional tasks include helping direct the flow of traffic.

    Attire: Please wear CLOSED TOE SHOES and pants or shorts of appropriate length. Tops must cover midriff and not be sleeveless. T-shirts or long-sleeved tops are acceptable. This is required to volunteer at the NH Food Bank. 

  • Production Garden – Seasonal April through November

    Please note: Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian while volunteering for the NH Food Bank.

    When: Monday-Friday. AM session from 8am-12pm. PM Session from 11am-2pm. Can also book the full day.

    Where: 1056 River Road, Manchester NH

    About: Volunteers help our Garden Coordinator, Jason Rivers, with the overall maintenance and upkeep of the NH Food Bank’s production garden for the community. Activities performed by volunteers range from tilling, weeding, planting, harvesting, or winterizing depending on the point in the season. We provide all tools necessary and have some gardening gloves. Please wear closed toe shoes. We recommend bringing waters and gloves, if you have them, in case we run out. Restroom on site. Individuals/groups welcome. Max of 100 volunteers.

    Attire: Please wear CLOSED TOE SHOES and pants or shorts of appropriate length. Tops must cover midriff and not be sleeveless. T-shirts or long-sleeved tops are acceptable. This is required to volunteer at the NH Food Bank. 

     

  • JFK Food Drop

    Please note: Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian while volunteering for the NH Food Bank.

    When: Every Saturday from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm

    Where: 303 Beech Street, Manchester NH

    About: Saturday mornings, the NH Food Bank brings food to the JFK Coliseum in Manchester to distribute directly to hungry families. Our volunteers help set up tables, give out the food, carry items for those who are unable to and clean up the area when done. This takes place outdoors despite the rain, snow, heat so volunteers should dress appropriately for the weather conditions.

    Attire: Please wear CLOSED TOE SHOES and pants or shorts of appropriate length. Tops must cover midriff and not be sleeveless. T-shirts or long-sleeved tops are acceptable. This is required to volunteer at the NH Food Bank. 

    Please note: The J.F.K. Coliseum distribution in Manchester is coordinated and led by Food for Children, a non-profit ministry organization. The NH Food Bank provides food for distribution and volunteers in support of this weekly food distribution event. During this volunteer opportunity, you may witness Food for Children speak to patrons regarding their faith and beliefs. Additionally, at these events, Food for Children may be taking video and/or photos. If you are not comfortable being on video and/or in photos, please inform Pete or Jim from Food for Children when you arrive at the event.

Group Opportunties

  • Mobile Food Pantries

    Please note: Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian while volunteering for the NH Food Bank.

    When: Locations and times vary. To see available opportunities, visit: www.nhfoodbank.volunteerhub.com

    About: This is a drive thru style event! Volunteers help food bank staff distribute meals to families by loading cars with food in boxes, weighing up to 30-35 pounds. Additional tasks include helping direct the flow of traffic.

    Attire: Please wear CLOSED TOE SHOES and pants or shorts of appropriate length. Tops must cover midriff and not be sleeveless. T-shirts or long-sleeved tops are acceptable. This is required to volunteer at the NH Food Bank. 

  • Fresh Rescue Sorting (for groups of 6 or more)

    Please note: Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian while volunteering for the NH Food Bank.

    Where: New Hampshire Food Bank

    When: Tues – Thurs, 8:30am-11:30am

    Every day, the NH Food Bank trucks bring back a variety of frozen foods that need to be sorted into categories. Volunteers involved in this process inspect the food for any signs of contamination or damaged packaging and sort all the good product into boxes that we can distribute to Food Bank agencies. This task requires some bending, lifting, and standing for the duration of the activity. 

    Attire: Please wear CLOSED TOE SHOES and pants or shorts of appropriate length. Tops must cover midriff and not be sleeveless. T-shirts or long-sleeved tops are acceptable. This is required to volunteer at the NH Food Bank. 

  • JFK Food Drop

    Please note: Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian while volunteering for the NH Food Bank.

    When: Every Saturday from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm

    Where: 303 Beech Street, Manchester NH

    About: Saturday mornings, the NH Food Bank brings food to the JFK Coliseum in Manchester to distribute directly to hungry families. Our volunteers help set up tables, give out the food, carry items for those who are unable to and clean up the area when done. This takes place outdoors despite the rain, snow, heat so volunteers should dress appropriately for the weather conditions.

    Attire: Please wear CLOSED TOE SHOES and pants or shorts of appropriate length. Tops must cover midriff and not be sleeveless. T-shirts or long-sleeved tops are acceptable. This is required to volunteer at the NH Food Bank. 

    Please note: The J.F.K. Coliseum distribution in Manchester is coordinated and led by Food for Children, a non-profit ministry organization. The NH Food Bank provides food for distribution and volunteers in support of this weekly food distribution event. During this volunteer opportunity, you may witness Food for Children speak to patrons regarding their faith and beliefs. Additionally, at these events, Food for Children may be taking video and/or photos. If you are not comfortable being on video and/or in photos, please inform Pete or Jim from Food for Children when you arrive at the event.

  • Kitchen Prep (maximum group size: 6 individuals )

    Please note: Volunteers must be 14 years of age or older to participate in this volunteer activity. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian while volunteering for the NH Food Bank.

    When: Monday-Thursday from 9am-12pm. 

    Where: New Hampshire Food Bank, 700 East Industrial Park Drive, Manchester, NH

    About: The majority of volunteering in our Production Kitchen consists of preparing congregate meals for the registered agencies of the NH Food Bank that those in need throughout the state! Our kitchen produces about 4,000 meals per week, with the assistance of volunteers. Volunteers help prep, wash, cut & cook all manners of proteins, starches & vegetables, wash dishes and help in any other capacity to make sure meals get out the door the door. Individuals/groups welcome. Max of 6 volunteers.

    Attire: Please wear CLOSED TOE SHOES and long pants with no holes, no shorts, leggings are not allowed. Tops must cover midriff and not be sleeveless. T-shirts or long-sleeved tops are acceptable. This is required to volunteer at the NH Food Bank. 

  • Production Garden – Seasonal April through November

    Please note: Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian while volunteering for the NH Food Bank.

    When: Monday-Friday. AM session from 8am-12pm. PM Session from 11am-2pm. Can also book the full day.

    Where: 1056 River Road, Manchester NH

    About: Volunteers help our Garden Coordinator, Jason Rivers, with the overall maintenance and upkeep of the NH Food Bank’s production garden for the community. Activities performed by volunteers range from tilling, weeding, planting, harvesting, or winterizing depending on the point in the season. We provide all tools necessary and have some gardening gloves. Please wear closed toe shoes. We recommend bringing waters and gloves, if you have them, in case we run out. Restroom on site. Individuals/groups welcome. Max of 100 volunteers. 

    Attire: Please wear CLOSED TOE SHOES and pants or shorts of appropriate length. Tops must cover midriff and not be sleeveless. T-shirts or long-sleeved tops are acceptable. This is required to volunteer at the NH Food Bank. 

Court-Mandated

  • Court-Mandated Policy

    The NH Food Bank accepts volunteers performing court-mandated community service.

    Volunteers who are performing court-mandated community service must disclose the nature of their conviction to the Volunteer Coordinator and/or any other staff member of the NH Food Bank.

    Please note:

    • The NH Food Bank will not accept volunteers who have been convicted of violent crimes, crimes of a sexual nature, theft, burglary, drug sales, or identity theft crimes.
    • The NH Food Bank reserves the right to decline any volunteer or to limit which days or hours a volunteer can work.
    • The NH Food Bank may establish pre-conditions for a court-mandated volunteer to work, and reserves the right to dismiss a volunteer at any time during their scheduled time.
    • Court-mandated volunteers are responsible for tracking their own hours. Any paperwork to be signed must be brought to the NH Food Bank to be signed upon completion of the hours worked each day. Hours for court-mandated community service: Monday thru Friday, 8am-4pm.
    • Proper dress close-toed shoes are required; any volunteers failing to arrive in such will be sent home without completion of hours.
    • It is not the responsibility of the NH Food Bank to accommodate court-mandated community service volunteers who wait until the last minute to fulfill their obligation. No exceptions will be made to this policy.

    For more information please call 603.669.9725 x 1131

    Click below to download the form that must be filled out, signed, and submitted to the NH Food Bank Volunteer Coordinator a minimum of 3 days prior to any community service:

     

    Attire: Please wear CLOSED TOE SHOES and pants or shorts of appropriate length. Tops must cover midriff and not be sleeveless. T-shirts or long-sleeved tops are acceptable. This is required to volunteer at the NH Food Bank. 

     

Cooking Matters NH Volunteer Opportunities

The Food Trust’s Cooking Matters® is a cooking-based nutrition education program that empowers low-income families with the confidence and skills to prepare healthy, tasty meals on a limited budget.  Cooking Matters® courses meet for two hours, once a week for six weeks and are team-taught by a volunteer culinary instructor, nutrition educator and classroom assistant. Volunteers must have an interest in working with low-income individuals with diverse backgrounds, as well as the Cooking Matters mission.

To learn more about these opportunities, including how to sign up:   Click here 

To learn more, contact our Cooking Matters team: Email us

Cooking Matters NH

  • Cooking Matters Volunteer Class Assistant

    Cooking Matters Volunteer Class Assistants are expected to actively participate as a teaching team member. Volunteers go through Cooking Matters® volunteer training before attending a class and must have a reliable form of transportation or ability to travel to class location. Class Assistants will be the support system to the nutrition and culinary instructors which may include; managing class materials (food, dishes and equipment), set-up and take-down, leading small groups, lifting 20lbs, good communication skills.

    For more information, see Cooking Matters Volunteer Opportunities.

    To learn more and sign up, contact our Cooking Matters team: Email us

  • Cooking Matters® Volunteer Culinary Instructor

    Volunteer Culinary Instructors will be teaching basic food safety skills, knife skills and help with recipe preparation. Cooking Matters volunteers are expected to actively participate as a teaching team member. Volunteers go through Cooking Matters® volunteer training before attending a class and must have a reliable form of transportation or ability to travel to class location.

    For more information, see Cooking Matters Volunteer Opportunities.

    To learn more and sign up, contact our Cooking Matters team: Email us

  • Cooking Matters® Volunteer Nutrition Instructor

    It is highly recommended that Volunteer Nutrition Instructors to have a strong nutritional background or strong understanding of nutrition. Cooking Matters volunteers are expected to actively participate as a teaching team member. Volunteers go through Cooking Matters® volunteer training before attending a class and must have a reliable form of transportation or ability to travel to class location.

    For more information, see Cooking Matters Volunteer Opportunities.

    To learn more and sign up, contact our Cooking Matters team: Email us

Other Ways to Help

Donate

Host a Food Drive

Attend an Event