Closed-toe shoes are required to volunteer at IFCB. We encourage comfortable clothes for activity and something you wouldn’t mind getting a little dirty. Layers are encouraged! Many volunteer roles have indoor and outdoor responsibilities – please come fully prepared for the weather.
First, please double-check the address listed in the description of your volunteer shift! We have two locations: our main location (179 1st Ave SE, Issaquah, WA 98027) and our off-site warehouse (930 7th Avenue NW, Issaquah, WA 98027). For both locations, it’s a good idea to plan for 5-10 minutes to find nearby parking and arrive on time.
Main IFCB Location Parking: Avoid parking in the spots immediately in front of the Food Bank, in the alley, or in the shopping center nearby. Street parking is available on 1st Ave, Rainier Blvd, and Bush St. There are usually spots available in the neighborhoods just across Rainier Blvd.
Off-site Warehouse Parking: Street parking is available on 7th Ave and Juniper St, along with other nearby streets. If you’re having trouble finding a spot, you can park in the Safeway parking lot just down the road and walk from there.
If you’re volunteering at our main IFCB location on 1st Ave, please enter through our side doors located in the alley. Someone will greet you and help you get checked in.
If you’re volunteering at our off-site Warehouse on 7th Ave, please enter either through the sliding garage door (if it’s open) or the door to the left of the garage door. Please note, we do not have a full-time staff person at this location. Staff will be present during volunteer shifts and will help you get checked in upon your arrival.
What if I need to cancel a shift?
Attendance is vital to successful, supportive volunteer shifts. Last minute cancellations greatly disrupt our operations and negatively impact food bank staff, volunteers, and our clients.
We request a minimum of 48 hours cancellation notice so that we can fill the volunteer spot. If you need to cancel within that 48-hour period due to sickness or an emergency, please contact volunteer@issaquahfoodbank.org after cancelling your shift on SignUp.com.
Currently, our staff capacity limits our ability to accept court-ordered volunteers. We cannot guarantee this service to anyone. Reach out to volunteer@issaquahfoodbank.org to learn more.
Yes, we have opportunities for families to volunteer together. However, all volunteers with our on-site opportunities must meet our age requirements, and you must each sign up for an available spot in the shift. If you have children not yet in High School, opportunities are available for off-site opportunities supporting our Annual Events. Email volunteer@issaquahfoodbank.org for details.
How physical is the work? What if I can’t lift 35 pounds? Are there seated/less physically active opportunities?
The vast majority of our volunteer opportunities are highly active. If your ability to stand, move continuously, or lift 35 lbs. repeatedly is limited, please email volunteer@issaquahfoodbank.org before signing up to discuss options. We have some administrative volunteer roles available and intermittent projects to support events. We'd love to find a volunteer opportunity that works well for you!
I can’t volunteer during normal work hours. How can I help after work hours or on weekends?
Yes! We have a weekly volunteer shift on Monday evening to support our Market Shopping from 4:00 - 7:15 pm. If you're able to head out early from work, we also have an end-of-day shift available every Thursday to support our Express Shopping from 3:00 - 5:15 pm.
Additionally, we have a Saturday morning shift to in partnership with the Issaquah Sammamish Food Project once every two months, six Saturday early afternoon Farmers Market shifts in the summertime, and a Saturday shift for our Holiday Gifts program in early December.
Will I be working alone?
No, our volunteers do not work alone. Volunteers will typically be working in small teams on an assigned role, and you will have staff support available throughout the volunteer shift. We are in this together, and we hope you make new friends along the way!
Is training provided?
Each volunteer shift will start with a briefing to go over the plan. Then, we will make sure you feel comfortable with your assigned tasks. All new volunteers will also receive a brief in-person safety training prior to the start of their first shift.
Can I volunteer once or do I need to commit to multiple shifts?
While we love to see returning friendly faces, you can sign up for just one shift! We do not require long term commitment from our volunteers.
Currently, our staff capacity limits our ability to accommodate job coaching inquiries. Job coaches must reach out to our team in advance at volunteer@issaquahfoodbank.org.