FAQ's

How do I schedule an appointment to volunteer?
Please click here or call Myra at 202.526.5344 ext. 235 or Oye at 202.526.5344 ext. 286 to schedule a time to volunteer.  We want to ensure there is enough work for everyone, so please schedule in advance.  Please allow at least five business days for us to receive and reply to a request to schedule a time to volunteer.  Last minute schedule requests are accepted, but we may not be able to accomodate them.  We encourage groups to schedule a time to volunteer as soon as it possible for the group.

To volunteer at our Lorton warehouse please call Tom Carroll at (703)541-30-63 ext 14 or email volunteerlorton@cfoodbank.org.

What time do I arrive?
Orientation and training begins when the shift starts at 9:00am, 1:00pm or 6:30pm.  Please make every effort to arrive a few minutes early so we can start on time.  You may work with other individuals or groups and we can train everyone together.  We will show a 15 minute film on the food bank and how we serve the community.

What does a volunteer do?
This work is considered light to medium labor, but we can find work for those who have physical limitations with advance notice.  There are a range of tasks that the volunteers perform on any day, from packing and sorting food to preparing mailings or preparing materials for a special event.

Who will I work with?
On most days, especially Saturdays, the groups and individuals scheduled work together.

Can I choose my volunteer assignment?
There are a variety of projects that volunteers can complete on any given day.  The volunteer department chooses the assignments for groups depending on the needs of our warehouse, member agencies or administrative offices.  Often, individuals work with the groups scheduled at the same time.  If you are interested in specifc volunteer assignments, individuals can join our Ambassador Volunteer program.

What should I wear?
Please wear jeans or long pants and comfortable closed toe shoes.  Also, wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.  Finally, please dress for the weather.  Our warehouse is not air-conditioned and largely unheated.

Do I need gloves?
We encourage volunteers to bring gloves to use such as work, garden, household or disposable gloves.  We provide a limited supply of disposable gloves to help keep your hands clean.

Can children volunteer?
Children between the age of 10 and 13 are not allowed to work in the warehouse without prior permission, a signed waiver and a parent or guardian with them in the warehouse. Youths under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under the age of ten are not allowed to volunteer in the warehouse.

What do chaperones, parents or guardians with youth do?
We ask that chaperones and parents or guardians help and work with their youth complete the assigned volunteer project.  Also, they are responsible for the youth that they are accompanying.

What is the largest group size?
We can accommodate groups of 20 to 30 people.  We ask that groups with students or youth have an appropriate ratio of chaperones to students, such as one to seven.

How do I drive there?
Driving directions can be found here.

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Is there parking?
We do have a parking lot in front of the warehouse where volunteers can park.

Are you near a Metro station?
Our DC location is about a 10 minute walk from the Brookland/CUA metro station. If coming at night, please walk in groups as we are located in a long row of warehouses.
Directions from the Brookland Station/CUA (on the redline):  Take the 10th St Exit, turn left onto 10th St.  Cross over Michigan Ave, and continue on 10th St.  Turn left after you pass the Cardinal’s Nest, before Perry Pl, this is the service road for the row houses on Perry Pl and looks like an alley.  You will pass the row houses on the right, and road will curve right twice.  Then you will see a series of warehouses and a parking lot.  Walk down to the end of the parking lot, Capital Area Food Bank is the last building on your left.

The closest bus stop is at 7th and Taylor Sts.  The H8 and H9 bus stops there.

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