Grab & Go Meal Assembly Volunteer 2024

**Due to the nature of our kitchen volunteer opportunities, we need to coordinate with first-time volunteers who have not yet had an orientation in our kitchen space. Orientations take place at the beginning of a new volunteers' first shift. If you are interested, please reach out to caridad@communityfoodbank.org. Please include what shift you would like to volunteer for and that you are a new volunteer at the Caridad Community Kitchen.

Caridad Community Kitchen is looking for volunteers to join our team in creating and assembling Grab & Go Meals for Community Meals Program. Volunteers will be trained by experienced volunteers and staff. Shifts take place Monday - Friday starting at 9am and ending at about 12pm. All tasks are done in a teamwork-based setting and volunteers are generally expected to arrive at 9am and stay for the entire shift. 

Shift Tasks

• Gather and set up Grab & Go Meal supplies
• Prepare and package sandwiches                   
• Work in an assembly line to pack meals
• Scoop, sort, and bag food items for Senior Meals program, as time allows
• Treat all volunteers and staff with dignity and respect, while adhering to Caridad Community Kitchen’s food safety guidelines

Ideal candidate qualifications & Physical expectations

• Fine and gross motor-skills in fingers, hands, wrists, elbows, and shoulders as volunteers pick-up small items to build meals, and scoop, place, pick-up, and move meal materials
• Able to lift between 20-30 pounds, preferred
• Able to stand for 3 hours (volunteers take breaks as needed)
• Comfortable working as part of a team
• Interest & ability to work in a steady-paced environment
• An organized, self-starter with the ability to work independently when needed
• Good oral communication skills
• Able to adhere to our kitchen dress code to maintain the safety of our food (see below for dress code)

 Dress code

• Long pants that cover the ankles
• Socks that cover the ankles
• Closed-toe shoes
• No tank tops
• **No jewelry or watches may be worn in the kitchen, except for a plain ring and a necklace that is tucked into a shirt. All earrings and facial jewelry must be removed. No exceptions. 
• Hair nets, aprons, and gloves will be provided by our program and need to be worn in the kitchen

Our dress code helps us keep both our volunteers and our food safe! Volunteers will be working directly with food, with our commercial kitchen equipment, walking in and out of our walk-in coolers & freezers, and working in our warehouse space. Long pants, socks that cover the ankle, and closed toe shoes help keep our feet & legs safe from accidents while removing our jewelry and watches ensures that nothing we are wearing makes its way into our food.

We have lockers and locks for storage of any items while volunteers are in our space.  

Guidelines for Volunteer Health & Food Safety

As a kitchen that serves individuals in our community who are at an increased risk for contracting food-borne illnesses, we take health a nd food safety very seriously.

These Health & Food Safety Guidelines encourage practices and behaviors that can help prevent individuals from spreading illnesses and/or foodborne pathogens to food. Health & food safety is of the highest important to us. Our meals are serving community members who may be experiencing a compromised immune systems and potentially lack regular access to medical care.

Please do not arrive for your shift if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms 24 hours before your shift:

• Sore throat
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Please do not come to our facility until more than 24 hours have passed since your last symptoms have subsided. Please do not arrive for your volunteer shift. If you are feeling unwell, reach out to our volunteer coordinator by phone or email. And don't worry! While we rely on and love to have our volunteers with us in person, your health and the safety of our food is more important! 

If you have been diagnosed with a contagious disease that can be transferred via food AND you have worked at the Caridad Community Kitchen, please notify our volunteer coordinator as soon as possible. Our highest priority is everyone's safety & we practice respect, trust, and discretion when discussing sensitive information.

Location, Parking, & Contact Information

Caridad Community Kitchen is located at:

Parking: We have a small parking lot located to the south of our building (enter via Main Ave.) and street parking is available on our cross street, 2nd Street. If you are arriving via bike, we have bike-hanging available indoors.

Contact Information: For any questions, please see our contact information on our Caridad Community Kitchen location page! All communications can also be sent to caridad@communityfoodbank.org and phone calls can be directed to our main number at 520-882-5641. 

Pandemic Safety Measures

Temperatures: Please generally monitor your temperature. If needed, volunteers can use a provided non-contact forehead thermometer at Caridad Community Kitchen to take their temperature. If your temperature is below 100.4 degrees, you are able to volunteer. If your temperature is equal to or above 100.4 degrees, please stay home or leave the site as soon as possible. Advise the volunteer coordinator at the site that you will not be able to volunteer that day by phone or email. If you believe the high temperature is a result of our heat, wait 15 minutes in a cool environment & take your temperature again. 

Self-Monitoring: Do not arrive to our volunteer shift if you are not feeling well, especially if you are experiencing symptoms that may be related to COVID19. This extends to anyone you have had sustained close contact with. For an up to date list of symptoms created by COVID19, click here.

Illness & COVID19 Exposure Policy: Out of an abundance of caution we are asking any volunteer who feels ill to stay home for 2 weeks. If the illness is due to a certain & known cause (such as allergies, medication, etc.) this policy can be disregarded. If any volunteer has been exposed to COVID19, we ask that they remain home for a 14-day quarantine. Please note this policy does not apply to volunteers who are fully vaccinated.

Face Coverings: Face coverings are optional while indoors on CFB property & during CFB activities. If you would like a KN95 or surgical mask for extra protection during your shift, please let us know. (Updated 3/21/2022)

What our staff are doing: Our staff sanitize commonly touched surfaces every hour, including internal and external doorknobs & handles. Surfaces in areas designated for eating and drinking are sanitized after each use.