We are so pleased you are considering becoming a volunteer with Center for Food Action.

Here are the answers to a few common questions:

Why Volunteer with CFA?

Our ability to provide essential food and groceries to our communities relies on the support of our amazing volunteers. Across all of our sites in Englewood, Hackensack, Saddle Brook, Mahwah, and on the campus of Bergen Community College, we serve approximately 200 families per day, totaling 1,000 families per week.

Volunteers help sort, pack, and distribute food, ensuring our neighbors leave with enough items to feed their families.

Our dedicated volunteers come from all walks of life – ranging from high school students to senior citizens, speaking various languages, and representing diverse communities throughout Bergen County.

All on-site volunteers must be 16 years of age or older (no exceptions.)
You must complete our volunteer application at CFA before you are able to volunteer.
Anyone under the age of 18 years old must have an adult sign all documents.
We ask volunteers to commit to at least one (2–3-hour shift) per week.
Based on the information you provide, we will contact you once a volunteer shift becomes available.
All volunteer shifts must be scheduled, we do not accept walk ups.
Most shifts require the ability to lift 25 pounds (with the exception of administrative positions and some warehouse tasks.)
All shifts (except administrative) are outdoors.
Community service hours are available.

Volunteer Positions & Locations

Volunteer positions include outdoor drive-through food distributions, packing food boxes, working in the organic garden, general warehouse work and administrative tasks.

All sites are open Monday – Friday

We are closed on weekends

Englewood:

Volunteer hours 9:45am – 12:00pm
Drive-through food distribution

Set up for distribution
Sort and bag perishable and non-perishable food, and personal items for distribution
Place items in cars when guests check in or continue to replenish distribution items
Clean up
Organic Garden location (9:30am – 12:00pm, Tuesdays and Fridays)

Hackensack:

Volunteer hours 10:00am – 1:00pm
Drive-through food distribution

Set up for distribution
Sort and bag perishable and non-perishable food, and personal items for distribution
Place items in cars when guests check in or continue to replenish distribution items
Clean up

Mahwah:

Volunteer hours 10:00am – 2:00pm
Late Hours : 3pm – 6 pm every Monday

Client Choice market

Help stock market
Assist our guests with their shopping experience

Warehouse support

Sort donated food
Organize warehouse
Help restock market

Administrative

Schedule guest appointments
Phone calls
Filing

Saddlebrook:

Volunteer hours 9:00am – 12:00pm and 12:00pm – 2:00pm

General warehouse work

Assemble and label boxes
Pack non-perishable food items for distribution
Organize warehouse
Sort donated food and check expiration dates

Volunteer hours 10:30am – 12:30pm

Drive-through food distribution

Set up for distribution
Sort and bag perishable and non-perishable food, and personal items for distribution
Place items in cars when guests check in or continue to replenish distribution items
Clean up

The Englewood Organic Garden provides opportunities for children younger than 16.
Younger than 12 needs to be accompanied by a parent
Twice per year we have off-site packing events where children
are welcome!