Thank you for your interest in volunteer opportunities to fight hunger!

Volunteer days and hours are flexible, including evenings. Short- and long-term volunteers are welcome. No experience necessary.

VOLUNTEER: Fighting Hunger Block By Block

Contact Noelle Dames, Outreach Coordinator: 215-430-0555 ext. 108, ndames@hungercoalition.org

Volunteer your time by taking part in "Fighting Hunger Block by Block." This initiative targets high-need neighborhoods in Philadelphia, providing community members with information on SNAP (food stamps), food pantries and other programs that can help families put food on the table.

Opportunities include:

• Attending community events to distrbute information about SNAP and other food resources in Block by Block neighborhoods. Currently, the Coalition is focused on Mayfair, Oxford Circle and other neighborhoods in Northeast Philadelphia.

VOLUNTEER: Connect Families with Food Assistance

Contact: Raquel McNeal, SNAP Campaign Manager: 215-430-0555 ext. 113, rmcneal@hungercoalition.org

Are you interested in volunteering your time to help families put food on the table? Volunteers will gain knowledge and develop a range of skills in connecting families, seniors and other low-income individuals with the food assistance they need.

Opportunities include:

• Screening callers to the SNAP Hotline to see if they qualify for SNAP or other public programs
• Attending community events and delivering presentations to educate community members about hunger and food assistance programs
• Helping clients complete applications over the phone or in person
• Canvassing in diverse communities, distributing information on food resource to area residents
• Conducting phone research and follow-up calls with clients

VOLUNTEER: Fight Hunger through Advocacy

Contact: Julie Zaebst, Policy Center Manager: 215-430-0555 ext. 121, jzaebst@hungercoalition.org.

The biggest steps in the fight against hunger happen through changes in public policy. Every day, elected officials make decisions that affect low-income families in Pennsylvania and across the country. Individuals can make a difference by supporting the Coalition’s efforts to make hunger a priority on Pennsylvania’s political agenda.

Volunteers will deepen their knowledge of public policy and have the opportunity to build a range of skills, including community organizing, data analysis and communications. Hunger advocate roles include:

• Mobilize constituents around particular advocacy issues at community events, engaging attendees in letter-writing campaigns and call-in day to their legislators
• Assist with voter registration drives and get-out-the-vote efforts
• Participating in legislative visits with the Coalition to your elected officials
• Assisting the Coalition efforts to collect clients’ personal stories of food insecurity to better convey the human impact of policy decision to elected officials and the general public For volunteers with data management experience, assisting the Coalition with special data-analysis projects

For other ways to get involved in anti-hunger issues:

• View volunteer opportunities at our partner organizations: Pack bags or prepare and serve holiday meals at a local food pantry or soup kitchen in Philadelphia.

• Sign up for our newsletter: Receive monthly updates from the Coalition and action alerts, so you can take action on important issues affecting Pennsylvania families.

• Visit the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania: Search the United Ways' database of volunteer opportunities in your community.