We simply could not do what we do without the help of volunteers! Whether you can volunteer once a week, once a month or once a year; individually or with a group of friends, family or colleagues, whatever your commitment, every hour of assistance helps us ensure our hungry neighbors will have access to food in their time of need.
Thanks to our volunteers, Northern Illinois Food Bank serves more than half a million hungry neighbors each year across 13 counties. Last year, volunteers donated 136,000 hours of their time to help distribute the equivalent of 80.3 million meals to families, seniors, and kids facing hunger in our community. What you do matters!
COVID-19 Update (as of May 2021): We continue to accept volunteers. At this time, masks and gloves are required in order to volunteer. There is no longer a health certification form requirement for volunteers. To learn how you can get involved through volunteering during this time, please refer to our Coronavirus (COVID-19) landing page here.
Click on an image below to learn more about our volunteer opportunities.
Inspect, sort, and package food that will be distributed to our hungry neighbors.
Groups of 25+ must call to register.
Ages 8+ are welcome.
Serve our neighbors directly at the Winnebago Community Market, My Pantry Express, and Mobile Pantries.
Ages 12+ are welcome.
Put your unique professional and general life skills to use and help us solve hunger! We have a variety of projects available.
Assist in planning fundraising events, soliciting sponsorship or auction items, and providing day-of logistic support.
Teen Volunteers (ages 16-18)
Do you have an interest in working with volunteer groups during food sorting and packing shifts? Here’s a unique opportunity to give back while learning to lead packing projects and manage volunteers ages 8 and up. Training is provided, and the minimum time commitment is at least two volunteer shifts per month. Weekday mornings and afternoons, evenings, and Saturday morning shifts are available. This opportunity is available all year long and was formerly referred to as the VolunTeen Program. Any interest or questions, send an email to volunteer@northernilfoodbank.org. Please include your available time to receive a return call from a volunteer team member.
Don’t see what you’re looking for?
Contact the volunteer team with your questions about volunteering with Northern Illinois Food Bank.
