Overview

The Loaves and Fishes Pantry shop, which offers discounted tinned and packet food for those struggling, are looking for volunteers to join either our Sorting Team to help organise donations, or our Customer Facing Team to help serve our customers. The Sorting Team meets on Wednesdays between 2pm and 4pm. The Customer Facing Team serve customers during our opening hours on Thursdays of 10am and Midday. Any potential volunteers are welcome to attend a whole session or part session if unable to attend for the whole time.

Key tasks

The Sorting role involves moving stock, so we are looking for volunteers to help us move and sort our donated food to ensure the food is stocked and ready for our opening times. This will include sorting food by date and type and removing any out of date items. It will also include helping to set up our tables ready for opening.

The Customer Facing role can also include moving food stock but this is not essential if you cannot help with this as the main aspect of this is dealing with customers. This means that the main aspect of this role is customer service, including helping customers with their food choices. 

About You

For Sorting role: Strong team player has an eye for detail. Organised and self-motivated. Happy with some heavy lifting.

For Customer Facing role: Strong team player has an eye for detail. Organised and self-motivated. Enthusiastic and able to engage with customers.

Benefits of volunteering
Volunteering in a friendly and supportive environment. Using your existing skills to make a difference. Meet new people who share your passion to eradicate poverty in the community. Make a real difference to the running of the pantry shop.

Impact of your role
Helping to drive efficiencies in the running of the pantry. Protecting the future of the pantry. Developing the reach of the pantry. You will be given all the required support within the role. You will have a main contact throughout your time volunteering.

About Loaves and Fishes Pantry Shop

The food provided is long life cupboard food, given as donations by the churches involved and other members of the community. We often struggle for donations and so charge customers £3 a bag and £1 for a year’s membership to go towards buying gaps in our stock. No formal referral is needed by customers, but most are given an informal referral from the nearby job centre.