Volunteer FAQs
What are your upcoming holiday hours?
Second Harvest Heartland, including our volunteer center, will be closed:
- Friday, October 17th for an employee wellness day
- Thursday, November 27th and Friday November 28th for the Thanksgiving Holiday
Do you have evening and weekend opportunities for volunteers?
We offer evening food repacking shifts in our volunteer center Tuesdays-Thursdays and weekend food repacking shifts in our volunteer center every-other Saturday.
Do you offer volunteer opportunities for youth?
Youth ages 8 and older can volunteer in our volunteer center as a food repacking volunteer. Learn more here: Youth Volunteering.
Do you offer volunteer opportunites outside of food repacking?
Ongoing and skills based volunteers play an important role in our mission of ending hunger together. View our current open volunteer positions and read the description to learn more about the role including what you'll do, what you're committing to, and how to apply.
Do you offer event volunteer opportunities?
Event support volunteers play an important role in our mission of ending hunger together. Fill out our event interest form to be notified when new event opportunites at Second Harvest Heartland becomes available.
Do you accept court ordered community service volunteers?
Second Harvest Heartland does not offer verification of court-ordered community service hours. Other nonprofits may offer verification and we recommend using HandsOn Twin Cities as a possible resource to find other opportunities.
Can I have student service learning hours approved?
Please contact us at volunteer@2harvest.org for confirmation of verified volunteer hours and provide at least 3 business days for us to complete your request. You must have a Volunteer Central account for us to verify your hours.
What is your address and is there parking?
We are located at 7101 Winnetka Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428, and have free off-street parking in our private parking lot.
Is there a dress code for food repacking shifts?
- Closed-toe shoes are required.
- Shirts should cover the shoulders and armpits (no tank tops).
- All clothing should be appropriate for handling food and not have loose, dangling beads or other articles which can be a physical contaminant.
- We suggest you dress in layers to remain comfortable while working as the temperature can fluctuate.
- We suggest you wear clothes you don't mind getting a bit dirty.
- No jewelry. Before entering the packing areas, you will be asked to remove all jewelry.
Can you accommodate a volunteer who cannot stand for a food repacking shift?
We are happy to provide stools for volunteers who need to sit or take frequent breaks. Please notify a staff member upon arrival if you need accommodations.
Is there a place to store my belongings while volunteering?
We have secure lockers available for all volunteers to use while they are volunteering.
Can we receive updates or notifications via text message?
You can sign up for text messaging on your profile. These messages are to notify the volunteer of any immediate news or changes to your volunteer shift.
Should I volunteer for a food repacking shift if I have food allergies?
Second Harvest Heartland asks volunteers with food allergies to use their best judgment in participating in food packing. We cannot guarantee an allergy-free environment and strongly advise that volunteers with severe or life-threatening food allergies refrain from food packing shifts. Since much of the food we pack is donated from various sources, it is possible that the food has been in contact with certain food allergens. We are also unable to notify our volunteers of what products we will be packing until the start of the volunteer shift.
How do I cancel my food repacking volunteer shift?
Please notify us a least one week before your shift as cancellations can have a significant negative impact on our operations. To cancel a shift, please contact us or follow these steps:
- Log in to Volunteer Central.
- Click on your initials in the top right-hand corner.
- Choose OPEN OPPORTUNITY RESPONSES from the list, you will be brought to your volunteer responses.
- Under the OPTIONS column, Click on SELECT AN ACTION next to the shift you will change.
- Select UNREGISTER, then click YES to confirm.
Do you accept matching grants from my company for volunteer work?
Yes! Please take advantage of matching grants or gifts from your employer.
What are your illness guidelines?
We are committed to protecting the health of our entire community while continuing to meet the critical need for meals for our hungry neighbors. If you have had any of the following symptoms in the last 24 hours, we request you refrain from volunteering at this time:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
If you are in doubt about volunteering with us due to any potential illness (common cold, influenza, COVID or other), we appreciate you staying home and taking care of yourself, and we will welcome you back when you are feeling well.
Thank you for your help in ensuring our staff and volunteers, as well as the food we distribute, are safe and remain healthy.
