Volunteer
Want to join our efforts but not sure where to start? Volunteer Your Time and take advantage of this incredible opportunity to lend your support. It’s a great way to contribute to our cause, and every little bit counts towards paving the path for a better tomorrow.
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Our volunteers are the backbone to the pantry's operations. In fact, we are a 100% volunteer based organization, where hundreds of hours are given each week from within the community in various roles to help put food on the table.
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STUDENTS NEEDING COMMUNITY HOURS
We are grateful (and proud) of the willingness
of the many students in our community who want
to share their time and efforts to help our neighbors in need.
While we have limited opportunities throughout the year
for children & teens to volunteer in the pantry,
the best way to help us is to host a Food Drive.
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VOLUNTEER ROLES
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Host a Food or Virtual Food/Fund Drive
Organizing a “drive” is a wonderful way to engage your neighbors, friends, family and coworkers in the spirit of community sharing. We’ll provide guidance to help make your effort a success.
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Host a Diaper Drive
Our smallest of clients always have a great need. Diapers & Wipes are a necessity for every child, yet they are expensive, and often our clients struggle to have clean diapers for their children.
Contact Us​
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Donation Collection
Volunteers help our team collection pickup donations from local businesses, organizations, communities and schools who have graciously hosted one of our donations bins or from organized food drives throughout the community.
(Volunteers must be 18yo+)
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Social Services
Struggling to put food on the table often signals a larger struggle with more than hunger. When unexpected expenses come up, our Social Service team is here to help our clients. We assess needs and provide our clients assistance to help them stabilize their lives. Our team responds to messages left on the Helping hands cell phone and provides monetary help as needed.
(Volunteers must be 21yo+)
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Wednesday Morning Truck Unloading
Volunteers work with a small team to unload food that has been picked up at the Central Texas Food Bank. Some lifting is required in this role (offloading truck to carts).
(Volunteers must be 21yo+)
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Client Distribution
Volunteers support client shopping inside the Helping Hands Food Pantry. Tasks include greeting clients, managing flow in the waiting areas and in the pantry, assisting clients with shopping. Spanish speaking volunteers are an added bonus to our clients!
(Volunteers must be 18yo+)
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Stocking
Volunteers sort, date check and put away donated non-perishable food from our weekly CTFB order, rescued food from local retail partners, and through our many food drives. Shift hours vary, as well as the day of the week - typically Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays.
(Volunteers must be 18yo+)
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Special Projects
Helping Hands has numerous annual projects with additional distribution to our clients (School Supplies, Project Elf). Our volunteers help with such programs in organizing school supplies and gifts for distribution. This may include picking up supplies/gifts from varying locations in the area.
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Empty Bowls Project
Our annual fundraiser in November. This is a "souper" event to get involved and/or come join in the fun and support our efforts. Be able to effectively communicate with other team members, physically be able to stand/walk during majority of volunteer shift.
Contact Us​
H-E-B Pick-up
Helping Hands work with HEB to collect surplus foods that they donate to our pantry. These pick-up are from the Dripping Springs and Nutty Brown HEB locations.
(Volunteers must be 18yo+)
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Partner Pick-up
Helping Hands work with a variety of local partners to collect surplus foods that they donate to our pantry.
(Volunteers must be 18yo+)
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Buyer
Each week we have a team visit a local grocery store to purchase staple items that we may need for that week’s distribution. This is primarily eggs & cheese. (Purchases are made with HH funds).
Summer Supplements
Each week during the summer, volunteers pack up a grocery bag of items to be distributed during pantry hours. (Shifts only June, July and August)