Food Outreach

Get Involved, Become a Volunteer!

From the beginning, people from all walks of life have volunteered their time and talents to provide nutrition support to men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS or cancer. By giving their time, volunteers make it possible to feed over a thousand men, women and children living with either HIV/AIDS or cancer. Volunteers are the lifeblood of Food Outreach and are our biggest asset. There are many ways in which you can give your time.

Several companies will give a grant to Food Outreach depending on the number of hours you volunteer. A true win-win. Check with your Human Resources Department to see if your company participates.

Contact Kathy Spencer at 314-652-3663, EXT 111 or kathy@foodoutreach.org for details.

Click here to read the "Volunteer Venue!"

To volunteer at Food Outreach, simply click the button to download the Volunteer Application Form as a PDF file (you will need Acrobat Reader).

Download Volunteer
Application Form

Here is a partial list of specific volunteer opportunities available:

Friday Prep Cook Crews and/or Saturday Cook-and-Pack Crews
Volunteers assist with food preparation, cooking, packaging and storing of our “scratch-made” meals, or join the clean-up crew in the Food Outreach kitchen. Scheduled most Fridays 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for “Prep Cook Crews.” Scheduled most Saturdays 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for “Cook Crews." Click here to see the schedule!

Preparing Orders for Delivery Clients
To accommodate clients who are weak as a result of their illness and/or medical treatments or have severe transportation challenges, Food Outreach delivers food orders throughout the metro area. Volunteers help fill orders, label bags and place orders in blast freezers for distribution that is convenient for delivery volunteers and clients alike. Scheduled alternate Tuesdays from approximately 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.

Delivering Orders
Spend an hour or two twice a month delivering meals to clients in your vehicle. Food Outreach clients live in 137 zip codes across the greater St. Louis area – so volunteers are needed from every corner of the region. Delivery varies based upon client needs and volunteer’s schedule.

Working in the Nutrition Center
To keep Food Outreach's nutrition program running smoothly, volunteers are needed to greet clients, distribute meals, fill client orders, sort through donated canned goods and stock shelves in our nutrition center. The center is open:
• Tuesday 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Wednesday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Monday Hot Lunch
Assist in the kitchen or help us serve our clients, restaurant-style, in our dining room on Hot Lunch Mondays. Two shifts are available: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for lunch prep and/or 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for serving and clean-up.

Guest Chef Program
Once a month, a local St. Louis chef, caterer, or just somebody who likes to cook prepares a Monday Hot Lunch for our clients. Clients really enjoy these special lunches because it gives them a chance to experience some of the culinary delights they would otherwise only hear about.

In honor of our 25th Anniversary click HERE to see the amazing chefs lined up for 2013.

The impressive list of past Guest Chefs includes:
• College of Nursing and Allied Health BJC Dietetic Interns
• Veterans Administration Hospital Dietetic Interns
• Dr. Matt German
• David Sherman
• Gene Dobbs Bradford and the Staff of Jazz St. Louis
•Jimmy Voss - Duff's Restaurant
• Kelvin Edmonds - Hannegan's Restaurant
• Grey Hard & Mike Alejanoro - Hard Rock Cafe
• Rich Krechel - Get Out Magazine
• Sam Orlando, Jr. - Catering from Orlando's
• Bryan Young - Catering Plus
• Tim Brennan - Cravings Gourmet Desserts
• Joan Long - Patty Long Catering/9th Street Abbey
• Jannis Evans - Volunteer
• The Hillmans - Volunteer Family

We are actively recruiting Guest Chefs. If you know of a particular St. Louis restaurant or caterer who you think would be interested, or if you would like to be a Guest Chef, please contact Becky Reichardt at (314) 652-3663 ext. 117 or becky@foodoutreach.org.

Office Support
Help the Food Outreach staff, Monday through Friday, by answering phones, preparing mailings, and assisting with a variety of other clerical tasks.

Helping with Fundraising/ Special Projects/ “911” Emergency
Put your name on a list to be “on call” to help with fundraising events, last-minute special projects, and/or emergency Cook-and-Packs. These volunteer opportunities are scheduled as needed. For further information, please contact Kathy Spencer at 314-652-3663 ext. 111 or kathy@foodoutreach.org.