Volunteer
We have a number of volunteer opportunities open and are now accepting volunteers. Please click on the link below to sign up.
COMMITMENT STATEMENT
We greatly appreciate you making the commitment to volunteer at Forgotten Harvest. We are truly relying on you to help pack emergency food boxes and re-pack or sort fresh nutritious food that will be distributed through Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb County. Without your help, the community loses out on life sustaining resources.
When volunteers do not honor their commitments, less food is able to be repacked and redistributed to our community. Our most vulnerable neighbors are then left with a greater burden in providing meals for themselves and their families.
*If you are not able to honor your commitment to us, please let us know at least two weeks in advance so that we may fill the spot(s) you leave open.*
Volunteer with Forgotten Harvest
Warehouse
Forgotten Harvest – Warehouse
For those who have volunteered with us in the past, please note the opportunity may look slightly different.
- General cleaning and warehouse needs
- Sweep warehouse floor and mop corners
- Dust off the top of food boxes/pallets
- Separate and bag food into gaylords
- Put cardboard in the baler
MANDATORY DRESS CODE
Must wear long pants & closed-toe shoes.
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NO open-toe or heel shoes (any kind of shoe exposing feet or any part of the foot, like sandals, sling-back, or Crocs)
- NO tank tops
- NO jewelry. Wedding rings are fine. All earrings and facial piercings must be removed.
For group registration – please email the volunteer department: volunteer@forgottenharvest.org
Review these resources before your Volunteer Information Session:
Welcome to Forgotten Harvest Farms in Fenton, Michigan!
Throw on your work clothes, slather on the sunscreen, and get ready for a fun day at the farm! We need your help with a variety of farm tasks, from harvesting vegetables to building picnic tables, and everything in between.
Planning a group outing? The farm accommodates groups of up to 50. Register through our farm volunteer coordinator Lori Setera at lsetera@forgottenharvest.org or (248) 302-7472. We kindly ask that groups larger than 50 call Lori to discuss the options available.
Review these resources before your Volunteer Information Session:
Volunteer Checklist & “Don’t Come If…” Information
Farm Locations:
9153 Major Rd.
Fenton, MI 48430
Directions
Forgotten Harvest is looking for volunteers to help with the distribution of emergency food boxes throughout Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb County. This is an outdoor volunteer opportunity. We will need volunteers to help collect information, direct traffic, and place boxes and groceries into trunks.
MANDATORY DRESS CODE
- NO open-toe shoes
- NO tank tops
COVID-19 INFO
The safety and well-being of our community, staff, and volunteers are important to Forgotten Harvest. We are monitoring the situation and taking our lead from the CDC, the State of Michigan, and local government public health officials. We are asking any person considering volunteering to please practice the necessary safety precautions:
- Based on the review of the current COVID-19 transmission in our area, FH no longer requires mask use indoors, but you may wear masks/face coverings when you volunteer indoors or outside.
- FH requests all members of FH’s team and our volunteers to respect and honor the rights of others who prefer to wear masks and also respect everyone’s safety choices during this time.
- Maintain 6′ social distancing.
- Continue personal health etiquette, including frequent handwashing or hand sanitizing.
It is important to stay informed as these types of situations can be dynamic. If a volunteer opportunity is not appropriate for you and if you are interested in other ways that you can help, the latest information will be on our COVID-19 safety response page. https://www.forgottenharvest.org/COVID19/
Review these resources before your Volunteer Information Session:
HARVEST HEROES
Harvest Heroes is a Forgotten Harvest volunteer group created to rescue food throughout Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. Harvest Heroes rescues from a wide variety of food donors and delivers to designated food pantry partners. Each pick-up location averages about 50-75 pounds of food.
Requirements/Commitment
- Vehicle Size: It is recommended that a full-size SUV is ideal to carry 250+ lbs. However, other forms of vehicles like full-size cars, vans, pick-up trucks, and others have been used.
- Commitment to the Route: Because our food donors are expecting pick-ups every week and our pantry partners rely on food donations to feed those in need, we are looking for individuals with a long-term commitment. We do have provisions for absences or vacations, but we strongly depend on your commitment to your route assignment.
- Physical Requirements: Our food donors designate areas for their respective donations, while most of the donations will be staged in containers or boxes for transporting the food to your vehicle. In most cases, it will be your responsibility to transport the food from the donor to your vehicle and from your vehicle to the food pantry partner. The weight of the boxes will vary but both the donor and food pantry partner will assist when needed.
- Driver Requirements and Onboarding:
Forgotten Harvest will require a volunteer waiver; a copy of your driver’s license and proof of insurance; authorization for a background check; and a session on food safety training before assigning a route. Once those requirements are completed, a route can be assigned and someone from the Harvest Heroes leadership will accompany you on your assigned route. You will be given a manual, thermometer, and insulated totes or blankets.
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Information Recording: Each food donor location requires the overall temperature to be taken at the time of pickup, then the food will need to be sorted by category (prepared, produce, baked goods, dairy, meat, and dry goods), weighed, and recorded.
- Food Safety: A critical part of our food rescue includes identifying quality food and packaging, monitoring date codes and labeling, and enacting temperature and spoilage control. All these and other elements to food safety will be explained during food safety training.
If you are interested in this opportunity and meet the above requirements, please contact Dan Burbulla at (248)930-4255 or dburbulla@forgottenharvest.org.
*Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.
SITE MONITOR
Forgotten Harvest is looking for volunteers to help with both Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) which give children access to meals when school-provided food is unavailable during the summer and evenings. Site Monitors will help ensure compliance required by the USDA and MDE during meal service times.
Each Site Monitor will use their own vehicle and gas mileage to travel to a variety of sites in and around the City of Detroit, supporting the meal service monitoring. While on-site, the volunteer will monitor the entire meal service and complete the required site monitoring forms. Monitors will be given proper training and supplies to help resolve any issues on site (for example, a missing USDA Justice For All poster). If more serious issues are found, Forgotten Harvest will request Corrective Actions and provide additional training to the sites as needed.
Commitment
Forgotten Harvest is looking for long-term volunteers to continuously support both programs at numerous sites. Schedules will vary based on # of partnerships, site needs, and meal service times.
Requirements
- Complete required Monitoring training
- Take ownership of paperwork requirements and report any non-compliance
- Recommend sites for training sessions when needed
- Background Check
- Reliable Transportation
- Valid Driver’s License and Auto Insurance
- Must be at least 18 years of age
Flexible availability and willingness to adjust the schedule for last-minute needs. If you are interested in this opportunity and meet the above requirements, please email the volunteer department at: volunteer@forgottenharvest.org
More Ways to Get Involved
There are always ways to help out at Forgotten Harvest. If you don’t see a specific opportunity of interest, contact our volunteer manager at volunteer@forgottenharvest.org.
Skilled Volunteers
We have many opportunities for volunteers with specific skills or training in things like general repairs, organization, and sanitation.
Food Shows
Volunteers will collect food products and samples left over from the exhibits, vendor tables, and booths at the end of the event.
Administrative
On an as-needed basis, we accept volunteers to tackle tasks such as answering phones, preparing mailings, and data entry.
Special Events
We have many special events throughout the year where volunteers are needed. Keep an eye out for our next event for volunteer information.
Long Term Volunteers
Forgotten Harvest has opportunities for motivated people looking for long-term volunteer opportunities. These opportunities are a commitment of approximately 2+ hours a week for 6-12 months, and include:
- Link 2 Feed Specialist – Volunteers will work with our partner agencies and clients to help launch and facilitate a new client intake program.
- Speakers Bureau – Volunteers will attend community events throughout Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties to be our voice and provide information about and be an advocate for Forgotten Harvest.
Volunteers must be at least 12 years of age for opportunities outside of the warehouse.
Forgotten Harvest’s Kids Program is currently on hold. If you’d like to be notified in the future if our policy changes, please contact Mary Moore-Butler at mmoorebutler@forgottenharvest.org.
Dear Forgotten Harvest Volunteer:
On behalf of the Forgotten Harvest staff, I would like to welcome you to our Volunteer Corp. We depend greatly on our volunteers to help us fulfill our mission of relieving hunger and maintaining the health of our community by rescuing surplus nutritious food and distributing it to neighbors in need. You are at the heart of what we do and serve as the backbone of Forgotten Harvest.
The contribution of your time and efforts is deeply appreciated, and we are committed to providing you with a meaningful, engaging, and impactful volunteer experience.
Thanks, again, for helping us help metro Detroit neighbors in need!
Sincerely,
Adrian Lewis
CEO, Forgotten Harvest