Volunteer
Only through your efforts can we achieve our mission of feeding hungry people and working to solve hunger issues in our community. We need volunteers every day to help sort and pack food donations, prepare BackPacks for hungry children, as well as assist with special events and administrative support. When you donate your time to Second Harvest, you become a partner in the fight against hunger in Middle Tennessee.
Registered Volunteers
All registered individual and family volunteers can sign in to our Volunteer Information Center using your username and password.
Volunteer Opportunities
Please read our Policies and Procedures before registering to volunteer. You can find more detailed descriptions of each volunteer opportunity here.
Hunger Study
Volunteers are needed for Hunger Study, Feeding America's extensive study of those struggling with hunger and the programs that work to serve them. The Hunger Study Volunteer will work as part of a team to implement a client survey which gathers information about clients who are using emergency food pantries to better understand their needs and opinions of the services provided to them. Learn more about the Hunger Study Volunteer Position. All Hunger Study volunteers are required to complete the training session, next available on Monday, May 20. If you are already a registered volunteer, please log in to sign up for the training session. If you are a new volunteer, please complete the volunteer application here.
Ode to Otha
Ode to Otha is a neighborhood block party and birthday bash, hosted by Nashvillian Bill Ramsey on Saturday, June 1. The event is a fundraiser for the food bank, and it honors musician Otha Turner with music, food and fun! Volunteers are needed to assist with registration, ticket sales and merchandise sales. This is a very casual and fun event. If you are already a registered Second Harvest volunteer, please log in to sign up to help at Ode to Otha. If you are a new volunteer, please complete the volunteer application here.
Stars for Second Harvest
Stars for Second Harvest is an annual benefit concert and will be held at the Ryman Auditorium on Tuesday, June 4th with host Craig Wiseman, featuring Florida Georgia Line! Volunteers are needed to help promote the event by handing out flyers to tourists walking around Downtown Nashville. In addition, volunteers will receive an event t-shirt and one ticket to the concert at the Ryman Auditorium on Tuesday, June 4th at 7:30 pm. If you are already a registered volunteer, please log in to your volunteer center to sign up to volunteer. If you are a new volunteer, please complete the volunteer application here.
Prepare Meals for Summer Feeding Programs
Summer is a vulnerable time for Nashville children who rely on lunch programs during the school year. We are thankful for the Summer Feeding Programs that work to provide kids with nutritious meals when school is out. If you are interested in preparing food for two of our summer feeding program sites, please log into your volunteer information center to sign up. Shifts will take place in June and July on Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 1 - 3:30 pm. If you are a new Second Harvest volunteer, please complete the volunteer application here.
Individual Food Sorting
Register to volunteer for Individual Food Sorting. The minimum age for the Individual Food Sorting shifts is 12 years old, and the minimum age for the Family Night shifts is 6 years old.
Group Food Sorting
We welcome corporate groups, school groups, community groups and more! Please have the group leader complete the Group Volunteer Application to register a group of five or more people for a volunteer opportunity. The group leader will receive a response within three business days including instructions for registering other group members. Once a group leader has received confirmation for the scheduled date, each group member will register using the Group Member Form.
Family Night
Register to volunteer for Family Night. The minimum age is 6 years old.
Court Appointed Community Service
Community Service shifts are Monday – Friday (8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1p.m. – 4 p.m.). Volunteers can sign up for either or both shifts in a day.
Please review the Court Appointed Community Service Policies and Procedures.
Contact Courtney Blaise at 615-310-6480 or courtney.blaise@secondharvestmidtn.org to sign up for a shift. Be sure to include your name, phone number, charge, case details and hours needed in your request.
None of our other volunteer opportunities accept Court Appointed Community Service volunteers. You must sign up for one of these shifts through Courtney Blaise in order to receive a letter for your volunteer hours.
Additional Information
All volunteers under the age of 18 MUST complete the Youth Volunteer Waiver and have the form signed by a parent or legal guardian.
You can find more detailed information about our volunteer opportunities here.
If you have questions about volunteering with Second Harvest, please email volunteer@secondharvestmidtn.org or call 615-627-1570.
