Become a Volunteer
Volunteers are the heart of the South Portland Food Cupboard. By giving your time and energy, you help ensure that local families and individuals have access to nutritious food when they need it most. Whether you're stocking shelves, assisting with food distribution, or helping with special events, every hour you spend with us makes a difference in our community.
We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, ages*, and skill levels—join us in the fight against hunger and become part of a team dedicated to making a positive impact! Our motto for volunteers is: "Come when you can; leave when you need."We appreciate every moment you can give!
*We ask that volunteers 16 years and under have an adult present with them when volunteering.
Signing Up for Your Shift Using Sign-Up Genius:
At South Portland Food Cupboard, we rely on volunteers like you to help us serve our community. After applying to volunteer and getting approved by our team, you can now sign up for a shift! We use SignUpGenius to make it easy for you to choose a time that works with your schedule. Even if all slots appear full, we still welcome you to stop by—there’s always room for one more! To ensure all volunteers are familiar with our mission and safety guidelines, we require each volunteer to complete a Volunteer Application and go through a brief orientation.
How to sign-up:
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Click the link below for the week you’re available.
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Select the checkbox for the day(s) you can volunteer.
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Submit your selection by clicking "Submit and Sign Up" at the bottom of the page.
Sign up by clicking on the link below:
Volunteer Schedule: A Week at a Glance
We are grateful for your interest in volunteering! Our volunteers are the backbone of our operation and handle various tasks. We’re looking for individuals who are dependable, flexible, and ready to serve our diverse clients. Volunteer hours typically run Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm, with reduced hours on weekends.
Here’s what a typical week looks like:
Monday:
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Food pickup, processing, and facility cleaning.
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Food delivery to the local Boys and Girls Club.
Tuesday:
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Food pickup, processing, and distribution from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm.
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Deliveries to the HUB in Brick Hill – Red Bank.
Wednesday:
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Food pickup, processing, and setting up for distribution.
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Evening distribution (1st Wednesday of the month, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm) for those unable to come on Thursdays.
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Morning food delivery (2nd Wednesday of the month).
Thursday:
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Food pickup, processing, and distribution from 8:30 am – 11:00 am.
Friday – Sunday:
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Food pickup and processing each day.
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Van drivers and helpers leave SPFC by 6:45 am.
We also do Food Rescue 7 days a week, so there are plenty of opportunities to get involved!
Groups
We welcome volunteer groups and appreciate creative ways of supporting our work, such as organizing a food drive or fundraiser. Contact us to discuss how your group can get involved.
Organize a Food Drive: Non-perishable items are always needed.
Check out our wish list, and contact us at (207) 874-0379 or email FoodCupboard@maine.rr.com to arrange drop-off.
Organize a Fundraiser: Monetary donations help us restock weekly.
Fundraisers can be as simple as a collection box or as creative as you like.
One local business sponsors a “jeans day” where employees donate to wear jeans at work!
Help with Special Projects: Special projects are great for scout troops and other community groups. Email us to discuss current needs at FoodCupboard@maine.rr.com.
Community Service
If you are looking to do required community service, we ask that you please contact us or send us an email at: FoodCupboard@maine.rr.com.
