How to Help : Volunteer
Volunteers play their critical role in ending hunger by giving their time and talent to support The Greater Boston Food Bank. Last year, more than 14,000 volunteers worked a total of 40,000 hours, a contribution worth more than $800,000.
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Individual
Make a difference as part of our volunteer team. Please pre-register by filling out an individual application form and join us.
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Groups
Any group larger than five people can schedule a time to come in and lend a hand. We can accommodate up to 50 volunteers at a time.
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Schools
Foster a sense of community in your school by bringing in a group that can learn about fighting hunger, and how they can help.
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Kids Who Care
Be part of a volunteer effort that's helping to end hunger among children in our communities, while teaching them about healthy food.
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FAQ
Some quick facts and guidelines that go along with volunteering.
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Food For Thought
Local manufacturers represent 28% of GBFB's acquired food. Major donors include Garelick Farms, Ken's Foods, Kettle Cuisine, Mama Rosie's, Ocean Spray, Welch's, Teddie Peanut Butter, Kayem, Pier Fish, Tribe Mediterranean, Gold Medal Bakery, Old Neighborhood, Jacobs Farms, Greencore USA, Yoplait/Columbo, Vitasoy USA, Genoa Sausage.
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Food For Thought
Donated produce represents 12% of GBFB's acquired food. As part of the Feeding America produce program, we receive half to full trailer loads of high quality produce. Frequent local donors include State Garden and Community Suffolk, and Costa Fruit & Produce.
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Food For Thought
USDA/TEFAP (Emergency Food Assistance Program) represents 19% of GBFB's acquired food. The USDA purchases food and ships it to each state. Here, it's administered by the Massachusetts Department of Education. The program includes staple commodities such as fruit juice, frozen meat, rice, canned beans, and eggs.
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Food For Thought
Coop program represents 4% of GBFB's acquired food. The program allows agencies to supplement existing inventory with highly desired items, though a cooperative purchasing program. This strategy uses our collective purchasing power to save money on food purchases so we can pass the savings on to our agencies.
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Food For Thought
Other purchased products represent 3% of GBFB's acquired food. This includes food purchased by The Food Bank and distributed for free to agencies. Also includes turkeys purchased at Thanksgiving through the online turkey drive.
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Food For Thought
Food drives represent 1% of GBFB's acquired food. These include non-perishable donations by organizations and individuals. Yearly events include Attorney General's Legal Food Frenzy, Red Sox Can and Cash Drive, Temple Beth Israel for Yom Kippur.
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Food For Thought
MEFAP (Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program) represents 32% of GBFB's acquired food. Purchased food with MA state funds goes toward staple food items such as turkey, rice, peanut butter, and beans. Vendors for MEFAP include Agar, Pioneer Valley Growers Association, Our Family Farms.
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Food For Thought
Special program via retail donations are a major part of GBFB's acquired food. Over one million pounds of meat, produce and other highly desirable food donations have been generated from the retail program. Participating retailers include Shaw's, Stop & Shop, BJ's Wholesale Club, Walmart, and Hannaford's and Trader Joe's.