Are you looking to make a difference in your community this holiday season? Come volunteer at Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen! Volunteers are the heart of our whole operation here at the Soup Kitchen. From packing lunches and serving a hot meal to distributing pantry bags of food and passing out haircut vouchers, it is our volunteers who enable us to be here for our guests.
Over the past several months, the families and individuals in need of services at the Soup Kitchen have increased each week. During the holiday season, which is typically our busiest time of year, we expect to face longer lines and more people in need of food than ever before. By signing up for a volunteer shift this November, you can make a difference in the lives of all those who visit the Soup Kitchen.
So what does a volunteer shift look like at Holy Apostles? We currently have 4 different types of volunteer shifts that you can sign up for during the month of November:
Soup Kitchen: During the Soup Kitchen shift, join us in packing bags for our soup kitchen and pantry guests. Volunteers during this shift will fill 600-700 lunch bags that include a salad, a hot meal, a piece of fruit, juice, and a snack. Some volunteers will help distribute the combined bag to our lunch guests outside. Volunteers during this shift will also help to pack grocery bags, including non-perishables, produce, and frozen protein items, for pantry distributions. Volunteers during this shift will be standing for long periods of time and occasionally lifting heavy food items, but accommodations can be made for those who need them. This shift occurs daily from 9:15AM to 12:15PM.
Social Services: During the Social Services shift, join us to distribute mail, toiletries, and clothing to our Soup Kitchen guests. Volunteers will either work inside organizing our distribution, or potentially engage with guests outside. Volunteers will use iPads (provided) to communicate the needs of a guest. Our department will also make referrals to outside agencies based on the needs of a guest. Volunteers will be interacting with guests outside, not indoors, during this time. This shift occurs daily from 10AM to 12:45PM.
Pantry: During the Pantry shift, join us as we distribute bags full of groceries to approximately 200 families during each shift. During this volunteer shift, you’ll be placing grocery bags into our guests’ carts and helping guests lift their carts outside. This shift requires volunteers to be able to lift 15-to-20-pound bags of food and stay standing for about 2 hours. This shift occurs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 1PM to 3PM.
Pantry Registration Table: During pantry hours, help us check in our pantry guests and register new guests on our computer system. This volunteer shift will involve writing down information from our guests, searching for guests in our pantry database on a computer (provided), and scheduling appointments for guests. Training will be provided prior to your first shift. You will be seated for most of this shift and volunteers with computer skills and interest in technology and/or volunteers who speak Mandarin, Cantonese, or Spanish are encouraged to sign up. This shift occurs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 1PM to 3PM.
Please join us this holiday season in helping New Yorkers in need! Sign up for a volunteer shift today here. Please note, volunteer shifts are added regularly so please continue to check the site for a slot that works for you. If you’re interested in a slot that’s currently full, please email us at [email protected].
