The Food Bank has fluctuating needs throughout the year based on season, product and volunteer availability. For questions about volunteering and current opportunities, please contact our volunteer and outreach coordinator at (517) 908-3698 or e-mail at volunteers@greaterlansingfoodbank.org.
Some times are approximate. Feel free to contact us for any questions or more information.
Warehouse Opportunities
We always have the need for volunteers at our main warehouse location. Check out our current opportunities below.
Food Sorter (Individuals and groups: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–noon and 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.; Some Saturday and evenings available for large groups. Please contact us.)
Organization is essential and the donations from our community need to be sorted in order to be distributed. You will evaluate, clean, sanitize, repack, and label all salvage (donated product) into designated categories. Ability to read labels and dates required. The warehouse temperature varies with the weather, so dress appropriately; closed-toe shoes are mandatory. Lifting and bending is required. Report to our warehouse at 2116 Mint Road.
Food Movers Assistant (Mondays and Fridays, 8:45 a.m.–1:30 p.m.)
Volunteers will ride along with a driver to pick up prepared food donations and deliver them to pantries and kitchens around the Lansing area. Volunteers need to be able to get in and out of our large(ish) truck and carry and lift up to 30 pounds. Report to our warehouse at 2116 Mint Road.
Open Food Distribution Volunteer (Please call or email for time and location)
The Greater Lansing Food Bank holds open food distributions at various locations around Lansing, where people in need can come and receive food. Volunteers are necessary to help unload food from our trucks and set up, interact with consumers during the distribution, help consumers carry food out to their vehicles, and help clean up and tear down when finished. Volunteers are needed the second Saturday of the month, with shifts starting around 9:30 a.m. and ending at about 1 p.m. Volunteers should be 14 years and older, courteous and professional, and able to interact with a diverse population.
Drivers (Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m. –1:00 p.m.)
We are in need of volunteer drivers with delivery experience and a minimum of a chauffeur’s license with the ability to get a medical card (chauffeur’s license with air brake or a CDL are encouraged). The driver and assistants pick up food donations from area restaurants, stores, and food distributors and deliver the donations to recipient agencies, community centers, and pantries. Volunteers need to be able to lift and carry 40 pounds. Report to our warehouse at 2116 Mint Road.
Rider (Mondays, 7:30 a.m. –1:00 p.m.)
This position consists of assisting a driver on a food run. You will pick up food donations from area businesses and deliver the food to recipient agencies, community centers, and pantries. Volunteers need to be able to carry and lift 40 pounds. Report to our warehouse at 2116 Mint Road.
Gleaner (late Summer through late Fall, Tuesday-Friday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm)
Through the Greater Lansing Food Bank’s Gleaning program, fresh produce that would otherwise go to waste is harvested by volunteers to help feed the hungry. The GLFB organizes crews of volunteers to harvest crops such as cherries and especially apples, at the request of area growers. The food is then distributed to our network of food pantries, kitchens and shelters to feed those in need.
Garden Project Opportunities
We have a variety of garden-related opportunities that change with the seasons.
Group Community Garden Workdays (Spring through Fall)
We need groups of various sizes to help community gardens with a variety of tasks. This could include painting sheds, weeding common spaces, constructing rain barrels or raised beds, and much more! Locations vary throughout Lansing/East Lansing.
Resource Center Volunteers (Mid- April-July, Tuesday & Thursdays, 4:45-7pm and Wednesdays, 9:45-1pm)
You don’t need a green thumb to lend a hand—you can come once or twice, or become a regular volunteer to help distribute seeds, plants, and tools to our gardeners. This is a fun way to learn new gardening skills and meet new people while serving the Lansing community. Volunteers are needed to greet and register gardeners, assist with seed and plant selection, and garden maintenance of our Demonstration Garden across the street. Weekend opportunities occasionally available. Report to 2401 Marcus Street, Lansing unless otherwise notified. Save the date to attend one of the 2020 Volunteer Orientations: evening of April 7th or morning of April 8th.
Seed Packager and Sorter (times vary—mostly during the winter months)
You can help give free seeds to thousands of gardeners! Many seeds are donated in bulk to The Garden Project and need to be re-packaged for distribution. Our goal is to give gardeners an equal share of the donation since not everyone wants 10,000 radish seeds. Seed packaging is an activity you can do alone, with a group, at our office, or at your home or meeting place.
Seed Starter (times vary—mostly late February through April)
Grow plants and donate them. The Garden Project distributes these plants to gardeners in our network through the Resource Center, which provides them the chance to grow and preserve their own fresh food. You can plant and care for seedlings at home, your workplace, a greenhouse, or a group location. Most plants need four to eight weeks to grow prior to donation. We can provide ideas on what to grow, basic tips, seeds, and other materials. This is especially easy if you already start your own plants.
Bilingual Translator
Some of the Garden Project community gardens have diverse groups of gardeners, many of whom have a limited ability to read or speak English. We are seeking bilingual volunteers to help translate documents into other languages. For languages we need help with and contact information, please click here!
Community Garden Mower (times vary – opportunities available throughout the course of the garden season)
The Garden Project is looking for both occasional lawn mowers or weekly volunteers to lend a hand at two beautiful community gardens. Both ELF Community Garden and Towar Community Garden have grassy areas that border the community plots and need weekly to bi-weekly mowing. Come on your own schedule to push a mower and lend a hand! Mowers are available at our Resource Center to borrow, or bring your own.