AFAC accepts a limited number of court-ordered or lawyer recommended volunteers. We do not accept charges that involve larceny/theft, assault/violence or sexual misconduct. Volunteers can earn up to 40 hours of service at AFAC. We will request to see documentation stating your offense so please keep that in mind.
Volunteer Application for Court Ordered & Lawyer Recommended Hours
All court-ordered volunteers must fill out a Volunteer Profile Form, in advance of service noting the hours of service needed and completion date. Email Danielle Rampton at danielle.rampton@afac.org after you filled out the profile form to discuss your charge and set a schedule. Community service volunteers must work under the supervision of a staff member and may only schedule shifts through a staff member in the volunteer department.
If you do not complete a profile form and set a schedule through a staff member in the Volunteer Department, we will not be able to credit you for your time. Please bring your court documentation or a letter from your lawyer and a photo ID to your first volunteer shift or you can scan the documents/ take a photo of them and send to danielle.rampton@afac.org.
If you are under 18, please have a parent or guardian fill out a minor hold harmless form before you start your hours at AFAC.
Scheduling
A schedule will be set for you to complete your hours at AFAC. Our warehouse has limited space, so a schedule is created based on the number of volunteers we are already expecting. Based on availability, hours can be earned between 7:30am – 4:30pm Monday through Friday and 7:30am – 1:00pm Saturday. These are the times when staff will be present. Please stick to the schedule that you are assigned. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please send an email or call our office during normal business hours.
Volunteers have access to sign up for volunteering opportunities using our online calendar. Please do not use this calendar to sign up for volunteer slots. These opportunities do not have staff members present and you will not be able to count these hours towards your community service totals.
Volunteering at AFAC
Dress code – You must wear closed-toe shoes to volunteer in AFAC’s warehouse and distribution area. The temperature in the warehouse is unpredictable and often chilly. Please be prepared by dressing comfortably in layers.
Entering the building – Our double doors in front are usually locked, so use the single door on the side and knock. Let a volunteer or staff member know you are here to volunteer. Your PIN is probably your home phone number without the area code. We have a PIN book by the computer in case you don’t know your PIN.
Logging in hours – Make sure to sign in and sign out using the computer in the office. This logs the hours you are completing for your community service. If you do not sign in, we will not be able to verify the hours.
Duties – While at AFAC, you may be asked to do several things in our warehouse: help out with our distribution, restock shelves, sweep/mop the floors, assist with loading and unloading from vehicles, etc. You may also be asked to go offsite with one of our staff drivers to help with food pickups or drop offs. If you are unsure of what to do, please ask a warehouse staff member what needs to be done. If you are unable to stand or lift, please let us know. We have a few jobs that can be done while seated.
Lunch Break – If you are volunteering for an entire day, you are allowed to leave the premises to take a lunch break. You can also bring a bagged lunch to eat here. Before you go on break, make sure you sign out on the computer and sign back in when you return.
Food at AFAC - AFAC strives to be a good steward of our food donations, getting as much food to our client families as possible. We ask volunteers to check with staff before opening AFAC's food to eat or taking food from AFAC home.
Client privacy – We respect the privacy of our clients. Stories about clients for promotional purposes are acceptable but please exclude any names to ensure anonymity. Suggestions about our services should be brought to the attention of staff and considered in-house.
Respect – Many of our clients are living in high-stress situations. Respect and empathy are important while volunteering here. If an uncomfortable situation arises, please alert an AFAC staff member.
Safety – Please be careful when you volunteer here at AFAC. There are many potential hazards in our warehouse. Pay attention to your surroundings at all times to avoid injuries. To ensure the safety of fellow volunteers, employees and clients, weapons of any kind are prohibited at AFAC. Community service volunteers who show up under the influence will be asked to leave and complete their hours elsewhere.
Completion of Community Service
You will receive a letter on AFAC letterhead and a timesheet stating your completion of community service hours. If you are completing your hours during normal business hours, a staff member in the volunteer office can hand this to you once you sign out. If you are completing hours on the weekend or evenings, please send an email stating your requirements.