To provide vital programs for those who face hunger in the Brazos Valley, the Brazos Valley Food bank relies heavily on the time and talents of volunteers.
Volunteer activities range from assembling food-filled BackPacks for children and Senior bags for our aging population, passing out food to individuals at a Mobile Food Pantry to participating in Nutrition Education programs with Brazos Valley Food Bank staff.
Your service is vital in uniting our community to nourish our neighbors in need.
“I, and my group, had a lot of fun and learned a lot about the Food Bank!”
“It's a great experience. It's a rewarding experience. You can come as you like!”
“You meet great people!”
Come out and be a part of making the Brazos Valley hunger free!
Step 1: Read the FAQs
Step 2: Go over the Volunteer Opportunities
Step 3: Submit Your Application
Please allow up to 3 business days for your application to be reviewed and/or approved. If your application is denied, we will let you know via email. If your application is accepted, the following steps will be completed to schedule your first shift.
Step 4: Watch the Orientation Video.
If you are having trouble viewing this, please email the Assembly Coordinator.
Step 5: Welcome Email
The Assembly Coordinator will send a welcome email to your VicNet account, our new online self-scheduling database. Individual and Court Appointed volunteers will need to schedule themselves for shifts. Groups will need to reach out the Assembly Coordinator. You will use the email address and password you included in your application. If you have any questions about the process, please email our Assembly Coordinator.
Step 6: Confirmation Email
Once you’ve scheduled your shift(s), you will receive an automated message confirming your choice, only if you have selected "Schedule Reminders" in your application. At any time you can log back in to VicNet and remove or change a shift. If you are unable to make your scheduled shift, or the number of volunteers in a group has changed, please let us know within 3 business days. If you have any further questions, please email the Assembly Coordinator, or give us a call at 979-779-3663.
Step 7: Come Volunteer!
We are located in the Industrial Complex at 1501 Independence Ave in Bryan, TX.
This page lists all current volunteer opportunities and their descriptions. The availability of these opportunities is subject to change.
If you need to complete Court-Appointed community service, you are on the wrong page. Please use the Court-Appointed Worker Application.
Please follow the easy steps below to start volunteering!
STEP 1 |
STEP 2 |
STEP 3 |
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Review the descriptions of volunteer opportunities below. |
Complete the Individual or Group Application. |
Receive an email on how to login to VicNet and schedule your shifts. |
Food Sorting
Where: Brazos Valley Food Bank
Shift 1: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Tuesday - Friday)
Shift 2: 12:45 PM to 3:45 PM (Tuesday - Friday)
Who: Individuals and Groups
Age requirement: 13 years and older. Volunteers under 18 must have a parent/guardian with them.
Dress Code: Due to safety concerns, all volunteers must wear close-toed shoes (no sandals or flip flops) and clothes appropriate to work in a warehouse environment.
Job Description: The Brazos Valley Food Bank wants to make sure that food distributed to the hungry is safe. Therefore, most food donations to the Brazos Valley Food Bank need to be sorted before they can be distributed to partner agencies who in turn distribute it to individuals in need. Sorting involves checking for product quality, as well as sanitizing and categorizing items. Training provided. May not be suitable for children under 13.
Requirements: Ability to read labels, discern quality, and make decisions about categorization.
Warehouse Assistance
Where: Brazos Valley Food Bank
Shift: 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM (Wednesday's and Friday's)
Who: Individuals and Court Appointed
Age requirement: 18 years and older. Volunteers under 18 must have a parent/guardian with them.
Dress Code: Due to safety concerns, all volunteers must wear close-toed shoes (no sandals or flip flops) and clothes appropriate to work in a warehouse environment.
Job Description: Volunteers who are interested in assisting with the core activities of the Brazos Valley Food Bank should consider volunteering in the warehouse. Volunteers help staff pull food orders from inventoried/racked stock, assist in unloading donations, sorting and organizing cardboard for bailing and wrapping pallets of food ready for delivery or pick up. Making sure that the warehouse is clean is orderly is also always needed. Training will be provided to use the pallet jack and pallet wrap.
Requirements: Must be able to stand for a long time, lift 40 lbs. or more, and take direction.
Food Donation Pick-Up
Where: Brazos Valley Food Bank
Shift 1: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Tuesday - Friday)
Who: Individuals
Age requirement: 17 years and older. Must have valid driver’s license.
Dress Code: Due to safety concerns, all volunteers must wear close-toed shoes (no sandals or flip flops) and clothes appropriate to work in a warehouse environment.
Job Description: H-E-B, Kroger, Sam’s Club, Walmart, Target, and Blue Baker donate food items daily to the Brazos Valley Food Bank. Volunteers are needed Monday-Friday in the morning to pick up, load, drive these donations using their personal, clean vehicles to the Food Bank and assist unload.
Requirements: Ability to commit to weekly, scheduled pick-ups of food donations, using a personal vehicle, during the day or throughout the week. Ability to lift 40 lbs. or more, pack and unpack groceries from a vehicle, etc. Must have own vehicle for pick-up.
Training: Required to complete a food handlers course (training provided by the BVFB).
Food Assembly for Children’s Backpacks
Where: Brazos Valley Food Bank
Shift 1: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Tuesday - Friday)
Shift 2: 12:45 PM to 3:45 PM (Tuesday - Friday)
Also available on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings from September 1st through May 31st.
Who: Groups, Families, Individuals
Age requirement: Volunteers under 18 must have a parent/guardian with them.
Dress Code: Due to safety concerns, all volunteers must wear close-toed shoes (no sandals or flip flops) and clothes appropriate to work in a warehouse environment.
Job Description: Volunteers assemble over 44,000 food packs for children annually. Assembly involves filling see-through bags with set amounts of different food items for each bag. All bags are assembled in standardized way and with the food same content and quantities. Assemblies are a great project for groups of 10 individuals or more. Assemblies normally take 1 ½ to 2 hours of volunteer time to complete. This opportunity is great for families!
Requirements: Ability to hold, fill, lift and tie the bags; each bag is around 5-7 lbs.
Food Assembly for Senior Bags
Where: Brazos Valley Food Bank
Shift 1: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Tuesday - Friday)
Shift 2: 12:45 PM to 3:45 PM (Tuesday - Friday)
We also offer some Tuesday nights and Saturdays.
Who: Groups and Families
Age requirement: Volunteers under 18 must have a parent/guardian with them.
Dress Code: Due to safety concerns, all volunteers must wear close-toed shoes (no sandals or flip flops) and clothes appropriate to work in a warehouse environment.
Job Description: Volunteers help assembly over 15,600 bags annually for low-income seniors. Assembly involves filling clear bags with different food items. All bags are assembled in a standardized way and with the same food content and quantities. Assemblies normally take 1½ to 2 hours to complete. This opportunity is great for families or groups of 10 or more!
Requirements: Ability to hold, fill, lift and tie the bags; each bag is around 5-7 lbs.
Food Box Assembly
Where: Brazos Valley Food Bank
Shift 1: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Tuesday - Friday)
Shift 2: 12:45 PM to 3:45 PM (Tuesday - Friday)
We also offer some Tuesday nights and Saturdays.
Who: Groups and Families
Age requirement: Volunteers under 18 must have a parent/guardian with them.
Dress Code: Due to safety concerns, all volunteers must wear close-toed shoes (no sandals or flip flops) and clothes appropriate to work in a warehouse environment.
Job Description: Volunteers pack about 4,200 family food boxes annually. An assembly line process is used, utilizing a manual conveyor belt that moves the box towards product that volunteers put into the boxes. All food boxes are made the same.
Requirements: Ability to work on your feet, count, and load single food items into larger boxes, may need to lift up to 40 lbs.
Mobile Food Pantry/Food Expo
Where: Madison County Fairgrounds
Date and Time: Usually the last Thursday of each month, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM or until food runs out. May be required to arrive early and stay later. Days and times may vary.
Who: Individuals, Groups, and Families
Age requirement: Volunteers under 18 must have a parent/guardian with them.
Requirements: Must have your own transportation to and from, signed confidentiality agreement, must be able to stand for long periods of time, and lift up to 40 lbs. Wear weather appropriate clothing; shorts, hats, sunscreen during the summer, and warm clothes in winter.
Job Description: Mobile Food Pantries and Food Expos are held in Brazos, Grimes and Madison counties. Volunteers assist with paperwork and distribution of food to clients. The fairgrounds are mostly open, with little shade, and it is windy, sunny, and hot in the summer. We do bring water for the volunteers (especially during the summer when it is hot). When it rains, we set up under a pavilion to keep the cardboard boxes, paperwork, and (most of) the volunteers dry.
Together We Grow - Garden
Where: Brazos Valley Food Bank
Date and Time: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM (Tuesday & Thursday)
Who: Individuals and Small Groups
Age requirement:Volunteers under 18 must have a parent/guardian with them.
Dress Code: Due to safety concerns, all volunteers must wear close-toed shoes with closed heel (no sandals or flip flops). Recommended attire is boots or athletic sneakers, jeans or long pants, light colored and light material long-sleeved shirt, wide brimmed hat, work gloves and sunscreen, as needed.
Job Description: Volunteers help provide maintenance in the garden of 15 raised beds. Maintenance activities may include weeding, watering, planting, and harvesting and washing produce. The garden is mostly open, with little shade. Please be mindful that it can be windy, sunny and hot in the summer. Shifts may be cancelled upon short notice due to inclement weather.
Requirements: Ability to grasp, bend over, withstand being outdoors for an extended amount of time; some tasks may require the ability to lift more than 10 lbs.
Project GotEm Spanish Translator
Where: Remote, work from home.
Shift: Monday through Friday, 8:30AM-4:30PM. Shifts will last approximately 10 minutes.
Who: Individual Volunteers (5-8 volunteers needed)
Age requirement: At least 17 years of age.
Job Description: Project GotEm is a new home food delivery program offered to low-income families that have been impacted by Covid and have limited access to food pantries. Depending on the families' needs, the non-perishable food items are delivered on a weekly, bi-monthy, or monthly basis. Currently, the program is scheduled to be available through March 2022. This opportunity is on an "as needed" basis; volunteers will be participating in conference calls with Spanish speaking clients and assist in translating the dialogue to our staff members. Volunteers would not need to visit our office for this opportunity.
Requirements: Must be Bilingual. Must sign a confidentiality agreement and take a Civil Rights course (training provided by BVFB).
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Individual Volunteers
The Brazos Valley Food Bank considers “volunteers” to be those who are helping the Brazos Valley Food Bank’s mission out of the goodness of their heart, for a student group, for a scholarship, or for a class.
What do volunteers do at the Brazos Valley Food Bank?
There are many different volunteer opportunities for volunteers at the Brazos Valley Food Bank. Volunteers might sort food, work in the warehouse or repack bulk food. They will also assist with various other clean-up tasks. Please see the Volunteer Opportunities tab.
When Can I volunteer?
Fall Hours (September-May)
Tuesday-Friday: 9:00 am-12:00 pm and 12:45 pm-3:45 pm
2nd Tuesday of each month from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm and the 2nd Saturday of each month from 8:00 am - 10:00 am/ 10:00 am -12:00 pm
Summer Hours (June-August)
Monday-Friday: 9:00 am-12:00 pm and 12:45pm-3:45 pm
During these volunteer hours, individuals could be working with a mixture of court-appointed (misdemeanor crimes), class required, organizational, local business, scout troop and high school student, etc. volunteers.
All times are subject to change due to seasons or availability.
Where will I be volunteering?
The Brazos Valley Food Bank is located at 1501 Independence, Bryan, TX 77803 unless volunteering off-site with one of our special programs.
What is the youngest age one can be to volunteer with the Brazos Valley Food Bank?
Brazos Valley Food Bank accommodates volunteers of all ages. Individual volunteers are required to be at least at the age of 18 to volunteer without adult supervision. We have easy and friendly projects for children to complete with a parent or guardian, like assembling bags for the Children Backpack program.
Which volunteer opportunities are family friendly?
There are many different volunteer opportunities that are family friendly. Opportunities include assembling Children’s Backpacks or Senior Bags or working together to repack bread or produce. There may also be opportunities to help distribute food to clients at one of our Mobile Pantries. Please see the Volunteer Opportunities tab.
I’m not sure where my skills fit in at the Food Bank. How can I find out where I fit best?
The right volunteer opportunity for an individual depends on many factors, such as interest, skills, schedule and Food Bank needs. Email us to begin the assessment process of where you might fit in best.
Can the Brazos Valley Food Bank accommodate volunteers with special needs?
The Brazos Valley Food Bank is wheelchair accessible and climate controlled. Most tasks require some motor skills and some decision making, so it best to discuss ahead of time individual needs with the Assembly Coordinator to find the best fit.
Is there a minimum number of hours one must volunteer?
There is no minimum of volunteer hours required. However, if you intend to arrive later in the shift, please contact the Assembly Coordinator.
Are there any special dress code requirements we need to know about?
Volunteers are required to wear closed-toe and closed heel shoes (such as tennis shoes). Long jeans or pants are preferred; shorts are allowed. The work that will be performed is active. You will be on your feet the entire time, moving and lifting. So, dress comfortably. The Volunteer Center is climate controlled. While the atmosphere at the Brazos Valley Food Bank is relaxed, it is important to use good judgement when selecting your attire during the summer months.
Is there a safe place to keep personal belongs on site at the Brazos Valley Food Bank?
Currently, the Brazos Valley Food Bank provides a designated lockers in the Volunteer Center where volunteers can place their personal belongings. The lockers do not have locks, but will be located at plain sight to allow the volunteers to have a visual of their belongings.
Can one get documentation from the Brazos Valley Food Bank that shows that we volunteered?
Yes, but this is not automatic. Requests can be made for documentation, on Brazos Valley Food Bank letterhead and signed by the Assembly Coordinator, that will state your name, total volunteer hours completed, and dates volunteer activities took place.
Was your question left unanswered?
Please email our Food and Friends Manager for more information!
Are you ready to get started? Click here to fill out your application today!
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The Brazos Valley Food Bank considers “volunteers” to be those who are helping the Brazos Valley Food Bank’s mission out of the goodness of their heart, for a student group, for a scholarship, or for a class.
What do volunteers do at the Brazos Valley Food Bank?
There are many different volunteer opportunities for volunteer groups and families at the Brazos Valley Food Bank. Volunteer groups and families may have the option of sort or box food donations that will go to children, families, and seniors in need. When you volunteer at BVFB, you are giving back to your community and working toward a hunger-free Brazos Valley. Please see the Volunteer Opportunities tab.
When Can We volunteer?
FALL HOURS (September-May)
Tuesday: 4:00 pm-8:00 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am-12:00 pm
(Other times are available upon request. Send an email to the Assembly Coordinator for accommodations.)
During these hours, your group or family could be working with a mixture of court-appointed (misdemeanor crimes), class required, organizational, local business, scout troop, school student volunteers, etc.
If you prefer only volunteering with other groups or families, please send an email to the Assembly Coordinator for accommodations.
All groups must fill out a group application online. All times are subject to change due to seasons or availability.
Where will we be volunteering?
The Brazos Valley Food Bank is located at 1501 Independence, Bryan, TX 77803 unless volunteering off-site with one of our special programs.
What is the youngest age one can be to volunteer with the Brazos Valley Food Bank?
Brazos Valley Food Bank accommodates volunteers of all ages. Volunteers are required to be at least at the age of 18 to volunteer without adult supervision. We have easy, friendly projects for children to complete with a parent or guardian, like assembling bags for the Children Backpack program.
Which volunteer opportunities are family friendly?
There are many different volunteer opportunities that are family friendly. Opportunities include assembling Children’s Backpacks or Senior Bags or working together to repack bulk food. There may also be opportunities to help distribute food to clients at one of our Mobile Food Pantries. Please see the Volunteer Opportunities tab.
Can the Brazos Valley Food Bank accommodate volunteers with special needs?
The Brazos Valley Food Bank is wheelchair accessible and climate controlled. Most tasks require some motor skills and some decision making, so it best to discuss ahead of time individual needs with the Assembly Coordinator to find the best fit.
How long can we volunteer?
Groups are typically scheduled in 2-hour shifts. Depending on the project, the shift may not require a full 2 hours.
Are there any special dress code requirements we need to know about?
Volunteers are required to wear closed-toe and closed heel shoes (such as tennis shoes). Long jeans or pants are preferred; shorts are allowed. The work that will be performed is active. You will be on your feet the entire time, moving and lifting. So, dress comfortably. The Volunteer Center is climate controlled-if you are warm or cold natured, take that into consideration. While the atmosphere at the Brazos Valley Food Bank is relaxed, it is important to use good judgement when selecting your attire during the summer months.
Is there a safe place to keep personal belongs on site at the Brazos Valley Food Bank?
Currently, the Brazos Valley Food Bank provides a designated area in the Volunteer Center where volunteers can place their personal belongings. The designated area will be located at plain sight to allow the volunteers to have a visual of their belongings at all times.
Can we get documentation from the Brazos Valley Food Bank that shows that we volunteered?
Yes, but this is not automatic. You may request a form on Brazos Valley Food Bank letterhead and signed by the Assembly Coordinator, that will state your name, total volunteer hours completed, dates volunteer activities took place.
I’m not sure where our skills fit in at the Food Bank. How can I find out where we fit best?
The right volunteer opportunity for each group/family depends on many factors, such as interest, skills, schedule and Food Bank needs. Email us to begin the assessment process of where your group or family might fit in best.
How large of a group can the Brazos Valley Food Bank accommodate?
Right now because of COVID precautions, the Brazos Valley Food Bank can accommodate groups up to 10 individuals a shift. We are limited to the number of volunteers we can hold so that we can adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Can more than one group volunteer at the Brazos Valley Food Bank at the same time?
At times, there may be others groups that are working on different volunteer projects or may be assigned to work with your group. Right now, volunteer space is limited and so are the number of groups that can volunteer simultaneously.
Can volunteer groups select the volunteer activity that we want to perform?
While the Brazos Valley Food Bank tries to accommodate all group requests, some activities may already be fully booked. If your preferred activity is booked, we have other great activities that may be available and they still work toward helping feed a Brazos Valley neighbor in need. Check out our Volunteer Opportunities tab to see more options or email the Assembly Coordinator with any questions.
How will our group know what impact our volunteerism made on the Brazos Valley Food Bank?
All volunteers help the Brazos Valley Food Bank feed individuals, children, families and seniors in need throughout the Brazos Valley. After each group or family volunteer session, a photo will be taken of your group or family with a sign, describing the impact that your collective volunteer hours made. All photos are posted to the Brazos Valley Food Bank’s Social Media accounts unless requested otherwise.
Was your question left unanswered?
Please email our Food and Friends Manager or more information!
Are you ready to get started? Click here to fill out your application today!
Court-Appointed Workers
The Brazos Valley Food Bank welcomes those that need to complete probationary or court ordered community service hours.
What do Court Appointed Workers do at the Brazos Valley Food Bank?
Court-Appointed Workers may assist with sorting food donations, working in the warehouse cleaning, sweeping, mopping, wrapping pallets, or assisting in food assembly setup. They may need to lift up to 40 lbs. and stand for long periods of time.
When Can I Fulfill My Hours?
FALL HOURS (September - May)
Tuesday-Friday: 9:00 am-12:00 pm and 12:45 pm-3:45 pm
SUMMER HOURS (June - August)
Monday-Friday: 9:00 am-12:00 pm and 12:45 pm-3:45 pm
During these hours, Court-Appointed Workers could be working with non-court appointed individuals, such as volunteers from local businesses, civic clubs, student groups, etc.
All court-appointed workers must fill out an online application and self-schedule their hours.
The Brazos Valley Food Bank is currently limited to the number of Court-Appointed Workers that be accommodated during these hours. All times are subject to change due to seasons or availability.
Where will I be fulfilling my Court-Appointed Hours?
The Brazos Valley Food Bank is located at 1501 Independence, Bryan, TX 77803.
What is the youngest age one can perform Court-Appointed Hours with the Brazos Valley Food Bank?
Court-Appointed Workers are required to be at least at the age of 18 to work at the Brazos Valley Food Bank without adult supervision. If you are under 17, you must have a parent or guardian with you during your shifts.
Can the Brazos Valley Food Bank accommodate Court-Appointed Workers with special needs?
The Brazos Valley Food Bank is wheelchair accessible and climate controlled. Most tasks require some motor skills and some decision making, so it best to discuss ahead of time individual needs with the Assembly Coordinator to find the best fit.
Are there any special dress code requirements we need to know about?
Court Appointed Workers are required to wear closed-toe and closed heel shoes (such as tennis shoes). Long jeans or pants are preferred; shorts are allowed. The work that will be performed is active. You will be on your feet the entire time, moving and lifting. So, dress comfortably. The Volunteer Center is climate controlled. While the atmosphere at the Brazos Valley Food Bank is relaxed, it is important to use good judgement when selecting your attire during the summer months (please no tank tops).
Is there a safe place to keep personal belongs on site at the Brazos Valley Food Bank?
Currently, the Brazos Valley Food Bank provides a designated area in the Volunteer Center where Court Appointed Workers can place their personal belongings. The designated area will be located in plain sight to allow individuals to have a visual of their belongings at all times.
Can one get documentation from the Brazos Valley Food Bank that shows that we completed our Court-Appointed Hours?
Yes, but this is not automatic. Please request this from the Brazos Valley Food Bank’s Assembly Coordinator. The documentation, on Brazos Valley Food Bank letterhead and signed by the Assembly Coordinator, will state your name, total volunteer hours completed, dates volunteer work took place.
Are there certain offenses for individuals assigned to community service that the BVFB does not allow?
Yes, you may not do community service at the Brazos Valley Food Bank if your offense is for robbery/theft, violent crimes, or sexual crimes.
Was your question left unanswered?
Please email our Food and Friends Manager for more information!