Volunteer to Make a Difference in DC
Our volunteers are critical to the operation of our services here at Bread for the City!
Individuals, groups, and companies come every single day to support our grocery deliveries, diaper program, clothing boutique, and many other operations. We appreciate every volunteer and are especially lucky to have volunteers that come back to serve with us week after week.
First-time Volunteer Information
Thank you for supporting our work by signing up for your first shift!
When you pick a shift, you’ll be prompted to make a VolunteerHub account. New users are required to share basic contact information, complete waivers, and review our Volunteer Handbook.
Our standard volunteer opportunities are Monday through Friday.
- If you are looking to volunteer as a small group, each person must create an account and register individually for their shift(s). Be sure to remember your login info, as you’ll need it when signing in at our centers!
- If you are a group interested in scheduling a volunteer opportunity with us but have not yet finalized your participant roster, please email volunteer@breadforthecity.org; our Volunteer Engagement Team will reserve however many seats you’d like for your volunteer event. Due to our workload/space limitations at our Northwest location, we ask all groups to join us at our Southeast Center.
- If you are a group of 30+, please inquire about our large-scale or annual volunteer opportunities by emailing volunteer@breadforthecity.org.
Volunteering Impact Stats
Each day, Bread for the City partners with community members like you.
Whether you have given two or two hundred hours, we thank you for your service!
Volunteer Opportunities
The majority of our volunteer needs are in our Food Pantry. Volunteers help clients select food items from the pantry, restock pantry shelves, bag groceries, and bag produce. Volunteers also support our weekly farmers’ markets.
**Spanish and Mandarin-speaking pantry volunteers are needed at our Northwest Center!**
Southeast only. Volunteers will have the opportunity to assist with sorting, hanging, and arranging clothing donations. During open hours, volunteers will provide customer service to Bread for the City’s client population. This includes welcoming clients, answering questions, and assisting with merchandise bagging. Additionally, volunteers are needed between appointments to support general upkeep and organizing.
Volunteers sort and label client mail at the Northwest Center.
Looking to serve with Bread, but unable to join us on-site? Consider hosting an in-kind goods drive (i.e. hygiene kit items, pads/tampons, winter clothing, men’s clothing,) or care/hygiene kit packaging event!
Care Kits can include any number or combination of the following:
- Toiletries: toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, shaving razor, lotion.
- Personal care items: pads/tampons, a small comb/brush, wet hand wipes, dry tissues, nail clippers, band-aids, lip balm, cough drops, hand sanitizer, mask.
- Nonperishable food: apple sauce cups, soft granola bars. Please only include soft food items.
Consolidate items in a plastic bag that zips or seals. Feel free to include inspiring quotes or other words of encouragement! Drop off your kits to either of our centers to the attention of the Volunteer & In-Kind Gifts Manager.
See our In-Kind Donation Guidelines or reach out to our In-kind Givings Manager kcampbell@breadforthecity.org for more information. We appreciate your support!
Internships
If you are interested in interning with Bread for the City, please let our Volunteer Engagement Team know here. Please note that we do not have paid opportunities available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before volunteering at Bread for the City, all volunteers must create an account and sign up for a shift. Please visit our site on VolunteerHub to do so!
To schedule a group volunteer session, please email volunteer@breadforthecity.org with your group’s name, how many seats you’d like to reserve, a couple of dates and shift times that work well for you, and your location preference (NW Center or SE Center). You can view dates/shifts and seats available here.
As COVID-19 continues to impact our communities, Bread for the City requires all volunteers to have received the original COVID-19 vaccination plus at least one booster. Free COVID-19 vaccines are available at pharmacies participating in CDC’s Bridge Access Program across DC, MD, and VA.
Everyone in our centers must also wear face masks. We recommend N95 or KN95 masks but provide surgical masks at the front desk.
Our Southeast Center (1700 Marion Barry Ave SE) is accessible via the Anacostia Station, Green/Yellow Lines. We then recommend taking a bus from the station: B2, V2, and W6 buses are routed from Anacostia Metro to 16th and Marion Barry Ave SE, right across from our building. The Circulator bus also runs from the Anacostia metro to 14th and Marion Barry Ave SE and 18th and Marion Barry Ave SE.
Our Northwest Center is at 1525 7th Street NW DC, a 7-minute walk from the Shaw/Howard Metro Center. It is also accessible via the 70 and 79 bus lines.
There is lots of free street parking available around our SE Center, as well as a free parking lot located across the street.
Street parking is available around our NW Center; however, volunteers are encouraged to move their vehicles or refill their parking meter prior to the 2-hour mark, as ticketing is enforced.
Please email your court documents to volunteer@breadforthecity.org. Then see our first FAQ for sign-up instructions! Be sure to check in with the Volunteer Engagement Team member on site so we can help you complete your hours and hour verification letter.
The Volunteer Engagement Team member on site will sign off on your completed volunteer hours.
Our minimum age for volunteers is 12 years old. A parent or guardian must accompany children under 12 years of age.
BFC has no dress code, but we ask all volunteers to please wear closed-toed shoes.
Have a question?
Feel free to send us an e-mail using the form below. We look forward to connecting with you soon!
Give Today!
Bread for the City’s services are made possible through the support of thousands of donors like you. Without your support, we would not be able to provide the food, clothing, social, legal, advocacy, and medical services that we do to 10,000 DC residents every month. Thank you!