At VEAP we engage volunteers in a wide variety of activities to support our mission. Volunteer opportunities include assisting clients in the food pantry, welcoming clients and scheduling food pantry appointments, driving people home from the pantry, greeting volunteers and guests, sorting food donations, completing data entry and more! Whether you enjoy working with people or working behind the scenes, VEAP has a volunteer opportunity for you!

The first step to becoming a VEAP volunteer is to apply using our online application.

The Fast Track Application is a good option if you’d like to volunteer in our warehouse sorting food donations and stocking shelves with healthy food. You can sign-up for up to five  shifts as part of your application. At the beginning of your 1^st shift you will receive a brief orientation and information about ongoing scheduling opportunities.

The General Application is a good option for you to get to know us and for us to get to know you on a first name basis. As part of the General application you will sign-up to attend an informational meeting where you’ll learn more about VEAP, all volunteer opportunities and meet with our Volunteer Manager, to find your final fit.

The time commitment varies depending on the volunteer position. Some volunteer positions have 2 ½-3 hour shifts while others are 4 hours in length. We do not have a minimum requirement of hours for volunteering. We welcome you to join us as often as you are able!

Absolutely! Volunteers can chose flexible scheduling, meaning once assigned to a volunteer position you can log-in via smart phone or computer to check openings and schedule yourself. We also offer regular shifts; some volunteers join us weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or at other intervals based on openings and volunteer availability.

Yes! We have many roles that are seated and do not require lifting or standing.

Yes! VEAP is open every Thursday evening until 7:15 p.m. We also offer seasonal opportunities on weekends including picking up food from local Farmers Markets or other special events. See information about group evening and weekend opportunities and more information below.

We encourage volunteers to dress comfortably. Volunteers in some areas (Warehouse, Distribution, Van Driver, Mobile Pantry) are required to wear closed toe shoes such as tennis shoes while volunteering.

You are welcome to volunteer at VEAP in our warehouse area sorting food donations and stocking shelves with healthy food. We can provide verification of your service hours upon request.

Yes! We welcome service learners from faith communities, schools, colleges and universities to join us.  We are happy to provide verification of hours upon request.

Yes. Due to the nature of working with at-risk/vulnerable clients and handling sensitive information, all staff and volunteers ages 18 and older are required to have a Criminal Background Check on file with VEAP. VEAP Transportation drivers (staff and volunteers) will have additional certifications as required. VEAP will not place volunteers if the following offenses appear on record: theft, violence against people, vandalism, disorderly conduct or felonies of any kind.

We do not require citizenship or ID in order to volunteer. We will request your legal name and birthdate as well as your written permission to complete a criminal background check. VEAP Transportation drivers are required to submit a valid driver’s license and proof of current insurance.

VEAP staff and lead volunteers provide training for new volunteers. The training approach varies depending on the position. For example, some roles such as warehouse or distribution include on-the-job training during your first shift whereas some roles such as lobby intake include 1:1 training with a staff supervisor.

Please contact our Volunteer Manager, Courtney Flug, at courtneyf@veap.org or 952.955.8325.

Yes! Youth ages 9-11 years old can volunteer at VEAP as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Youth starting at age 12 can volunteer independently in our warehouse sorting food donations. Youth starting at age 18 can volunteer in any number of positions

Yes! Groups of youth from faith communities, sports or activity clubs, Girl Scout or Boy Scout troops, as well as others are welcome to join us. We ask that adult chaperones join the group to provide adequate supervision. Please contact our Volunteer Manager, Courtney Flug, at courtneyf@veap.org or 952.955.2369 to discuss specific details and options.

If you are already a VEAP volunteer, you can remove yourself from the schedule via Volgistics as long as the shift is 5 or more days in advance. You can also call the Volunteer Department at 952.955.8323 or email them at volunteerdept@veap.org. For same day cancellations, please call the Volunteer Greeter at 952.955.8331.

The shifts are numbered to assist with internal scheduling needs and they do not have any impact on the work that you will be asked to do.

Please register your group via our website. Once you submit the registration, you will hear from our Volunteer Manager, Courtney Flug, about specific opportunities and scheduling options for your group.

Groups of a variety of sizes can join us at VEAP. The size of your group will depend on the volunteer opportunities available. Small groups of 3-5 can volunteer for a mobile pantry distribution. Groups of 3-10 can volunteer in our food pantry and warehouse area. Groups larger than 10 can join us over multiple shifts in the food pantry and warehouse areas or schedule an evening or weekend activity.

Group volunteer opportunities include sorting food donations and stocking shelves with healthy food; assisting with mobile food pantry distributions; collecting toilet paper and diapers, then repacking at VEAP or your location; special projects and more!

Groups can host collection drives for high-demand items such as toilet paper and diapers then repackage into smaller quantities usable for distribution in our food pantry. Groups can also collect items for snack packs, breakfast bags, toiletry kits and more. A VEAP representative can join your group to share information about our work and the impact of your collection drive. Please contact our Volunteer Manager, Courtney Flug at courtneyf@veap.org or 952.955.2369 to discuss specific details and options.

Groups can join us at a number of different times throughout the week depending on the size of your group, activities available and your needs. In general, mobile pantry distributions are weekdays between 11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. or 1:30-4:30 p.m. In general, Volunteer groups joining us in the warehouse or food pantry can join us weekday afternoons, typically between 2:30-5:00 p.m. If your group is joining us for an evening repackaging event, we can coordinate a specific time on Saturday or Sunday or on any weeknight except Thursdays.

We will collect group members’ names when they arrive for volunteering.

Yes! Groups can join us weekly, monthly or quarterly. Please contact our Volunteer Manager, Courtney Flug, at courtneyf@veap.org or 952.95.8325 to discuss scheduling options.

Yes! Groups of youth from faith communities, sports or activity clubs, Girl Scout or Boy Scout troops are welcome to join us. We do ask for adult chaperones to join the group to provide adequate supervision. Please contact our Volunteer Manager, Courtney Flug, at courtneyf@veap.org or 952.955.2369 to discuss specific details and options.