Maryland Food Bank

Volunteer at the Maryland Food Bank Distribution Center!

The Maryland Food Bank provides food to approximately 600,000 hungry Marylanders a week with the support of our volunteers. Without our volunteers we would be unable to move thousands of pounds of donated food and product into the community to feed needy families and individuals.
Volunteer appointments must be made in advance for individual and group volunteers. We accept groups of 7 to 25 volunteers at a time from corporations, schools, nonprofits and other organizations. Youth groups must be chaperoned with a 1:7 ratio (1 adult per 7 youths). The minimum age limit for an unsupervised volunteer is 16 years of age. Volunteers between the ages of 12 and 15 may volunteer under the supervision of an adult/guardian.

Volunteer sessions normally run in 3 hour shifts, but may be less depending on the needs of the Maryland Food Bank. For safety, open-toed shoes and heels are not allowed in the distribution center. Volunteers should dress comfortably, preferably in jeans, shorts, sweats and/or t-shirts.
A brief orientation and training is provided to all volunteers.

For additional questions and information, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Jill Kusner, at jkusner@mdfoodbank.org or by phone at 410-737-8282 ext. 232.

Daily Volunteer Needs

Daily volunteer opportunities in our distribution center include re-packing donated food and product processed through our conveyor system, packing assorted food kits, packing health and beauty kits and checking expiration dates. Volunteers have to be at least 18 years of age to work on the conveyor system. Daily opportunities are available Monday to Friday between 9:00am to 4:00pm. We ask that our volunteers commit to a three-hour shift.

Group Volunteer Profile Sheet Updated

Individual Volunteer Profile Sheet Updated

Waiver and Release of Liability Form (pdf file)

Volunteer Requirements Updated

Directions to our Baltimore Distribution Center (pdf file)

Occasional Volunteer Needs

On occasion, volunteers are needed to assist a few times a month with administrative duties such as filing and data entry. Volunteers are also needed to assist with large mailings.

After-Hour Sessions

We make it easy for everyone to get involved by offering two after-hour sessions. Our Baltimore distribution center is opened every second Saturday of the month from 8:30am-12:00pm and every fourth Wednesday of the month from 5:30pm-8:00pm.

*An additional Saturday morning and/or Wednesday evening may be added during winter holidays or during times when the Maryland Food Bank experiences a high volume of food drive donations.

Special Projects for Volunteers under the age of 18

Volunteers under the age of 18 are only allowed to work on special projects. A special project consists of packing assorted food kits, packing health and beauty kits, assembling boxes, cleaning donated food products and general clean-up when necessary. On occasion young volunteers can assist with office tasks such as filing and large mailings.

*Special projects are not available on a daily basis. Please contact Jill Kusner, Volunteer Coordinator, to inquire about the availability of special projects at jkusner@mdfoodbank.org or by phone at 410-737-8282 ext. 232.

Special Events

Volunteers are needed to assist at various off-site events. Such events include our annual Blue Jean Ball, Orioles Wives’ Food Drive and the Ravens' Food Drive. On occasion volunteers are needed to work point-of-sale campaigns at grocery stores distributing information and collecting food donations.