Want to pitch in and help us with the work that we do? We have several different opportunities for you to come and volunteer with Food For Free! Read about our opportunities below, then sign up to receive email notifications about volunteer shifts here.
Somerville Weekend Backpack Program
When: Friday Mornings during the school year, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30ish a.m.
Where: Connexion Church, 149 Broadway, East Somerville, MA 02145
How do I get there? Plenty of close metered street parking, and nearby Somerville permit parking
Accessible on the 89, 90, 93, 101 buses, plus a short walk (15ish minutes) from Sullivan Square
What do I do? Make sandwiches, pack bags of food for 300+ Somerville students for the weekend.
At the start of the session, there may be the option to pick up donated sandwiches from Union Square and deliver them to the program. At the end of the session, there is the option to help drive bags of food to various Somerville schools.
Requirements: Hair pulled back, standing, lots of counting
When: Two weekends per month, various shifts ranging from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. CEOC Food Where: Pantry, 11 Inman St., Cambridge, MA 02139
How do I get there? Metered street parking nearby, Cambridge permit parking nearby, Central Square T stop and many local bus routes
What do I do? Pack boxes of food for Home Delivery Program clients; option to ride on the truck with our driver and assist with deliveries.
Requirements: Standing; truck volunteers must be able to lift 40 pound boxes
When: Weekday Mornings, 9 a.m. to 12:30ish
Where: Kendall Square, inside Biogen: 225 Binney St., Cambridge, MA 02142
How do I get there? Metered street parking nearby, Cambridge permit parking nearby, Kendall Square T stop and several local buses
What do I do? Repackage bulk frozen food donations into single-serving frozen meals for local schools, community groups, and shelters.
Requirements: Standing, using hand tools to break apart frozen food, safe handling of food. Please bring a hat.
When: Wednesday Mornings during the growing season, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: Lindentree Farm, 10 Old Concord Rd, Lincoln, MA 01773
How do I get there? Parking at the farm, accessible by commuter rail from Porter Square, about a mile walk from the station to the farm
What do I do? Grow vegetables for distribution to Pine Street Inn, a shelter for homeless women and men in Boston. Plant, weed, and harvest organic vegetables on our ¼ acre farm
Requirements: Standing, bending, lifting heavy items, using farm tools, outside all morning. Please bring sunscreen, a hat, and water bottle.
Special Events
When: Time varies, often evenings and week-ends.
We will be in touch when volunteer opportunities become available. Event “season” is approximately April-October—that’s when you can expect us to reach out!
Mailings
When: A few times a year, between 9 and 5, exact time varies, typically 2 or 3 hours.
Where: Food For Free office, 11 Inman St., Cambridge, MA 02139
How do I get there? Metered street parking nearby, Cambridge permit parking nearby, Central Square T stop and many local bus routes
What do I do? Folding, stuffing, labeling, and stamping envelopes
Requirements: Sitting and handling paper
