Individuals

Volunteer Opportunities

• Packing Bags– This is it, the reason we’re all here! Volunteers are asked to pack our weekend meal bags by “shopping” or walking down a prepared line of shelf-stable grocery items. At the conclusion of most packings, volunteers are invited to assist with resetting our line for the next group. Participants should be prepared to walk and be able to life about 10 pounds, this activity usually lasts about 90-120 minutes
• Prep – Some of the single-serve food items we use, like fruit cups, need to be bundled for inclusion in our bags. Participants will bundle items into ziploc bags. This is a low physical impact activity that can be completed seated and requires little lifting.
• Driving – While many of our partner schools have “regular” volunteer drivers, we are always looking to recruit new folks to fill the holes in our delivery roster or serve as a substitute. Our partner schools receive a variety of bags, so please be sure to pay attention to the requested number of bags as you register. We encourage all drivers to ensure their vehicles are empty and ready to be loaded upon arrival. Weekend Backpacks staff and volunteers then load your vehicle the morning of delivery. Drivers then contact the destination school to indicate that a delivery in en route. Upon arrival, drivers are assisted with unloading by school staff (and occasionally a few helpful students).
  • Typically Sedan-style vehicles can fit 40 bags and SUVs can accommodate up to 70
  • Once a month deliveries include bread packed in boxes
  • If you drive a pick-up, we request that you have a tonneau or other bed cover to protect the bags en route

Additional Opportunities

• Assembling Bags – We would love to send a backpack home each week stuffed with food, but to ensure we reach as many families as possible, we use  doubled up plastic bags to contain each week’s menu. The thin, inner bag is tied to keep the food together while the outer bag is a bit easier for our kids to carry. We occasionally ask volunteers to prepare bags during packing sessions but volunteers can also pick up a box of inner and outer bags and assemble them at home on their own schedule. This is a very helpful way to get involved if our sessions don’t work for your schedule or you’re a student looking to accrue Student Service Learning hours. Email volunteer@weekendbackpacks.org for more information
• Collections – Throughout the year we conduct a variety of drives to support our kids in other ways. During the fall and winter we collect and distribute cold weather gear and in the summer we collect school supplies for distribution in the fall. Email volunteer@weekendbackpacks.org for more information on active drives.