Pack hampers, drive the truck, or cook.
Give a few hours a month or a shift every week. Most shifts run two to three hours, and most roles need no experience.
Find the Right Role for You
Every role comes with training, and you pick the days.
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Hamper Packer and Distributor
Our most common role. You'll work alongside other volunteers to sort incoming food donations, pack weekly hampers to household size, and hand them to families as they arrive. It's physical, social work, and you'll quickly learn what's in a hamper and which items people are happiest to see.
- Commitment
- 2–3 hours per shift, 1–2 shifts per week
- Skills
- None. You should be comfortable standing, sorting, and lifting up to 20 lbs.
- Training
- A 1-hour orientation shift
- Location
- Burnaby, Surrey, or Richmond
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Mobile Pantry Driver or Co-Driver
Our Thursday Mobile Pantry route is the most complex operation we run, and it depends on reliable drivers. As a driver you'll take our refrigerated truck through eight stops across the region. As a co-driver, you'll manage the back of the truck, greet community members at each stop, and help keep the route on schedule.
- Commitment
- Full Thursday route (8 am to 6:30 pm) or 2–3 stop segments
- Skills
- Valid BC Class 5 driver's licence for drivers. Co-drivers need no licence.
- Training
- Vehicle orientation and a route walk-through
- Pay
- Mileage reimbursement for drivers
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Community Kitchen Helper
The Community Kitchen runs Wednesday and Saturday mornings at our Burnaby location. Kitchen helpers support the coordinator in preparing ingredients, guiding participants, cleaning up, and keeping the room welcoming. It suits anyone who enjoys cooking and people in equal measure.
- Commitment
- 3 hours per session (Wednesdays 10:30 am to 1:30 pm or Saturdays 9:30 am to 12:30 pm)
- Skills
- Basic kitchen comfort. FoodSafe certification is an asset.
- Training
- Kitchen orientation with Marcus, our Programs Manager
- Location
- Burnaby (3760 Kingsway)
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Food Rescue Driver
We partner with grocery stores, farms, restaurants, and food distributors across Metro Vancouver to collect surplus food before it goes to waste. Food rescue drivers pick up donations on a scheduled or as-needed basis and bring them to our Burnaby warehouse. It's an independent, flexible role for people with a van or pickup.
- Commitment
- 1–4 hours per pickup, typically 1–3 times per week
- Skills
- Valid BC driver's licence and a vehicle with cargo space
- Training
- Food safety handling and a route briefing
- Pay
- Mileage reimbursement
In Their Own Words
"I started volunteering on a whim three years ago. A friend dragged me to a hamper packing shift and I haven't stopped. I come every Tuesday now. There are no meetings. I've met some of my closest friends at that warehouse."
"I ride the Thursday route and it's become the highlight of my week. There are regulars at each stop now who I recognize. An older woman in North Delta always brings me a piece of fruit she saved from the previous week. A dad in Surrey thanks me in three different languages."
Bring Your Team to Nourish BC
Planning a team-building day, a corporate volunteer program, or a school group activity? We host groups of 8–30 people for hamper packing shifts, warehouse days, and food drive events. We set the date, the shift, and the supervision; you bring the people.
Email volunteer@nourishbc.ca to discuss dates and logistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a minimum age to volunteer?
Volunteers 16 and older can participate independently. Youth aged 12–15 can volunteer with a parent or guardian. Some roles (driving, food rescue) require you to be 19+ with a valid driver's licence. We also welcome school groups and youth programs for supervised shifts.
Do I need to pass a background check?
You will need a criminal record check for roles with direct ongoing contact with vulnerable people, including seniors and children. This is a standard BC Volunteer Check that's free for volunteers. We'll guide you through the process. It typically takes 1–2 weeks.
How often do I need to commit to volunteering?
Please plan on one shift a month for the first three months, so you get comfortable and Amina can match you to the right role. After that, some volunteers come weekly and some once a month. If your availability changes, tell Amina.
Will I receive training?
Yes. Every volunteer completes a 1-hour orientation that covers food safety basics, how to greet people picking up food, and the tasks of your role. Drivers get a vehicle orientation and kitchen helpers a kitchen safety briefing. Your first shift is alongside an experienced volunteer.
How to apply
Email Amina at volunteer@nourishbc.ca with your name and the role you are curious about. She replies within two business days.
Email volunteer@nourishbc.ca