Volunteer
Want to join our efforts but not sure where to start? Volunteer Your Time and take advantage of this incredible opportunity to lend your support. It’s a great way to contribute to our cause, and every little bit counts towards paving the path for a better tomorrow.
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Our volunteers are the backbone to the pantry's operations. In fact, we are a 100% volunteer based organization, where hundreds of hours are given each week from within the community in various roles to help put food on the table.
VOLUNTEER ROLES
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Host a Food Drive
The greatest way to quickly get involved with your own flexibility is to host a food drive. We are happy to help you get started!
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Social Services
Struggling to put food on the table often signals a larger struggle with more than hunger. When unexpected expenses come up, our Social Service team is here to help our clients. We assess needs and provide our clients assistance to help them stabilize their lives. Our team responds to messages left on the Helping hands cell phone and provides monetary help as needed.
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Wednesday Morning Truck Unloading
Volunteers work with a small team to unload food that has been picked up at the Central Texas Food Bank. Heavy lifting is required in this role.
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Client Distribution
Volunteers support client shopping inside the Helping Hands Food Pantry. Tasks include greeting clients, managing flow in the waiting areas and in the pantry, assisting clients with shopping. Spanish speaking volunteers are an added bonus to our clients!
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Food Drive Sorting
Volunteers sort, date check and put away donated non-perishable food from various food drives. Shift hours vary, as well as the day of the week.
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Donation Collection
Volunteers pick up donations from local businesses who host one of our donations bins or from organized food drives throughout the community.
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Special Projects
Helping Hands has numerous annual projects with additional distribution to our clients (School Supplies, Project Elf). Our volunteers help with such programs in organizing school supplies and gifts for distribution. This may include picking up supplies/gifts from varying locations in the area.
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Empty Bowls Project
Our annual fundraiser in November. This is a "souper" event to get involved and/or come join in the fun and support our efforts. Be able to effectively communicate with other team members, physically be able to stand/walk during majority of volunteer shift.
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Box Truck Driver
Each week we have a driver go to the Central Texas Food Bank to collect our weekly items. Our driving team takes on one week each month. Drivers are required to have a valid driver's license. Helping Hands provides auto insurance.
H-E-B Pick-up
Helping Hands work with HEB to collect surplus foods that they donate to our pantry. These pick-up are from the Dripping Springs and Nutty Brown HEB locations.
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Partner Pick-up
Helping Hands work with a variety of local partners to collect surplus foods that they donate to our pantry.
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Buyer
Each week we have a team visit a local grocery store to purchase staple items that we may need for that week’s distribution. This is primarily eggs & cheese. (Purchases are made with HH funds).
Summer Supplements
Each week during the summer, volunteers pack up a grocery bag of items to be distributed during pantry hours.