Food Pantry of Waukesha County

Food Pantry of Waukesha County
Volunteer Opportunities
Organization / Food Pantry of Waukesha County
215 W. North Street
Waukesha, WI 53188
Mission / Recognizing that hunger exists in our community, the Food Pantry of Waukesha County seeks and collects donations to provide groceries to Waukesha County individuals and families in need while respecting individual dignity.
Contact Person / Judy Cesarec
Phone Number / 262-542-5300
Email /
Website / www.foodpantryofwaukeshacounty.org
Answer Phones & Light Clerical Work at Food Pantry
Volunteers with a friendly voice and office skills are needed to answer phones and perform light clerical work to help the food pantry run smoothly. Sign-up for a 2-3 hour shift for once or twice per week.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / 16
Dates/Times / M-F 9:00-3:00 p.m. and Saturday 9-12:00 p.m.
Bilingual Pantry Aide
Friendly and compassionate volunteers with bilingual skills are needed to assist Spanish speaking clients in various capacities, including filling out forms and selecting food items. Commit to a 2-3 hour time block per week or on an as needed basis.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / 16
Dates/Times / M-F 12:45-3:15 p.m.; Th 5:45-8:15 p.m. & Sat. 9-12:00 p.m.
Food Delivery to Homes
Compassionate and nonjudgmental volunteers are needed to deliver food to individuals unable to come to the food pantry to pick up needed food, such as the elderly or disabled. Also, during the end of 2006 the Food Pantry began a home delivery program to individuals that are on probation or parole and are unable to visit the pantry because of the rules and regulations set by the pantry. The pantry does not allow those on probation or parole to visit the pantry because of the vulnerability of their clients and the desire to not put their staff or volunteers at risk. However, they also realize the need to reach out to this group of people that are suffering from a lack of the basic need of food. Volunteers will not enter the homes of those on probation or parole.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / 21
Dates/Times / As needed, twice a month
Food Distribution Assistance
Assist during hours when the pantry is open at the service counter helping food pantry clients/recipients select their groceries and restock shelves as necessary. Volunteers must be personable, kind, patient, able to stand for two hours and confidentiality is a must.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / 18, younger with adult supervision
Dates/Times / M-F 12:45-3:15 p.m.; Th 5:30-8:15 p.m. & Sat. 9-12:00 p.m.
To volunteer on weekdays speak to Judy at the Food Pantry, and to volunteer for evenings or Saturdays speak to Nilda at the Food Pantry
Four volunteers are especially needed on the 1st and 2nd Thursday nights of the month; and on the 2nd Saturday of the month.
Food Drive
Food, personal care, and cleaning products are accepted and welcomed at the Food Pantry. Items are provided free of charge to individuals that are low-income, homeless, or in the midst of an adversity and unable to purchase needed items.
Prior to holding a food drive, contact the Food Pantry to determine their top needs, storage space limit, and drop off time/day.
Needed items include, but are not limited to: soups, vegetables, fruit, tuna, meat products, pasta, sauces, cereal, juice, powdered milk, peanut butter, jelly, baby food & formula, disposable diapers & wipes, personal hygiene items, cleaning and paper products, light bulbs, food for a holiday meal, snack food, and grocery store gift certificates. Fresh, canned, frozen & prepared foods are accepted.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / Open
Dates/Times / Call the Pantry for the appropriate drop off time and day
Hold a Drive for Children's Birthday Party Items
Make a child's dream of being able to have a birthday party come true! Provide the fixings for a birthday celebration for a child from a low-income or unemployed family or living in a homeless or women's shelter. Put together a birthday party package that includes a cake mix, can of frosting, candles, balloons, birthday paper plates and napkins, hats, favors, decorations, and treats.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / Open
Dates/Times / Call the Pantry for the appropriate drop off time
Holiday Food Drive
Hold a holiday food drive to provide food items to celebrate a holiday. Holiday foods are not limited to Thanksgiving & Christmas. Prior to holding a food drive, contact the Food Pantry to determine their needs, storage space limitations and drop off time/date deadlines. Thanksgiving & Christmas baskets typically include: frozen turkeys or hams, cranberry sauce, stuffing mix, powdered milk, dessert mix, boxed or fresh potatoes, yams, rolls, canned vegetables and fruit, gravy mix, olives/pickles, rice & Jell-O.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / Open
Dates/Times / Call the Pantry for the appropriate drop off time, day and needs
Light Cleaning at the Food Pantry
Help to keep the food pantry looking clean, tidy, and welcoming to clients. Basic cleaning - vacuuming, mopping, washing counters, sweeping, and cleaning the food preparation rooms and restrooms.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / 18, younger with adult supervision
Dates/Times / W-F 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Pick Up Food Donations
Go out with a driver to pick up food donations at various locations. Load up, unpack truck, and stock shelves. Volunteers are asked to commit to a 2-3 hour time block, and should be friendly and able to physically lift, carry, and unload food donations.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / 21
Dates/Times / M-F 9:00-3:00 p.m.
Provide Easter Baskets
Donate Easter Baskets filled with small items and candy for children of low-income or unemployed families, or living in a homeless or women's shelter. Donate baskets, candy, small items or other treats. Contact the Food Pantry prior to putting the baskets together to determine their current need and drop off time/date deadline. Great activity for an individual or group!
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / Open
Dates/Times / Contact the Food Pantry for drop off times and dates
Special Food Drive Extra Hands
Assist the Food Pantry with food distribution, sorting food and stocking shelves during the holidays or after a large food drive.
Due to an increase in food donations around the holidays and the distribution of holiday baskets, typically 3-4 extra people are needed each day during the two weeks prior to Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Extra hands to receive, sort and stock food are needed during and after the annual Boy Scout Food Drive in
March and the annual Letter Carrier's Drive in May.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / 16, younger with adult supervision
Dates/Times / Dates/times vary - weekdays and weekends
Stock Shelves, Sort, and Pack Food
Stock shelves, sort food, and pack food bags for home deliveries. Volunteers are asked to commit to a 2-3 hour time block at least once per week and commit to a six month time period.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / 16, younger with adult supervision
Dates/Times / M-F 9:00-3:00 p.m. and possibly Saturday 9-12:00 p.m.
Hebron House of Hospitality
Volunteer Opportunities
Organization / Hebron House of Hospitality
812 N. East Avenue
Waukesha, WI 53186
Mission / To provide emergency housing and related services to people in transition with the basic needs of shelter, food, and personal support. Offering three homeless shelters for individuals, families, and individuals with mental illness, and low-income apartments.
Contact Person / Anita Fabos
Phone Number / 262-549-8720
Email /
Website / www.hebronhouse.org
Child & Youth Activities
People that enjoy children, have patience, compassion, and confidentiality are needed to provide and participate in activities with children living in a homeless shelter in Waukesha. Facilitate art classes, read books, pay games, assist with homework, etc.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / 16
Dates/Times / Days/times vary
Cleaning, Maintenance, Painting, Repair Projects
Help to keep a homeless shelter looking welcome and inviting by assisting with cleaning, room turnovers, organizing games and movies, washing windows/walls/woodwork/floors/stove/oven/refrigerators, vacuum, defrost freezer, general maintenance, fill soap/towel dispensers, painting or helping with repair projects. Individuals and groups can volunteer on a scheduled or as needed basis, and are welcome to call and see what projects are available at any of the three Waukesha homeless shelters or low-income apartments.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / 16
Dates/Times / All week - choose a time between 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Cornerstone Apartment Needs (Low-income housing unit)
Help to refresh or mend a broken spirit by providing spiritual and emotional guidance and support to an individual(s) living in a low-income housing unit. Become a friend and be a mentor, or share the Gospel on an individual or small group basis and provide hope. Many material items are needed for individuals living in the housing unit that are very low-income, financial assistance, disability, or social security. Items include personal hygiene items, linens/towels, small appliances, kitchen items, over-the-counter medicines, clothing, paper products, etc. Contact the Hebron House to determine the current needs of residents.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / 16
Dates/Times / Varies
Driver
Assist homeless shelter residents with transportation to places such as church, Bible study, job interviews, doctor appointments, counseling sessions, or places to receive further assistance. Or pick up a bread donation from Panera Bread in Pewaukee on Monday mornings with your vehicle and deliver it to the Hebron House. In some instances, mileage reimbursement is provided.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / 25
Dates/Times / Hours vary
Food or Meal Donations
Hold a food drive or provide a meal or a portion of a meal for at a homeless shelter in Waukesha. Food donations are needed for all meals, every day. Seasonal food items are also appreciated. Contact the Hebron House prior to holding a food drive or donating cooked food to determine the current need. Individuals and groups are encouraged to adopt one scheduled meal per month and provide enough food for the entire house, which usually ranges from 24-36 people at the Hebron & Siena Houses, and 7-10 people at the Jeremy House.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / Open
Dates/Times / All meals, daily
Holiday Food Donations or Preparation
Help to make a holiday a special time for shelter residents by donating holiday food items, meals, or helping with preparation and serving directly at a homeless shelter. Resident count ranges from 24-36 people at the Hebron & Siena Houses, and 7-10 people at the Jeremy House.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / Open
Dates/Times / All meals, daily
Holiday Gifts or Decorations
Help to make a holiday special time for shelter residents by donating gifts for residents or holiday decorations for a homeless shelter or low-income individual. Contact the shelter to see what the current needs are based on residency. Gifts are typically clothing, coats, linens/towels, toys, toiletries, bus passes, gift cards, stamps, etc.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / Open
Dates/Times / Contact the shelter for drop off days/times and immediate needs
Personal & Household item Donations
Individuals or groups are encouraged to donate items to be used by the residents living in one of the Waukesha homeless shelters, low-incoming housing units, or for individuals anticipating moving out of transitional living into their own apartment. Items include: personal hygiene products, paper products, baby needs, clothing, linens, plastics, household cleaners, kitchen items, furniture over-the-counter medicines, food, bus passes,gift cards, pens, etc. Contact the shelter to determine current needs.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / Open
Dates/Times / Call for the drop off day/time
Seasonal Yard Work at a Homeless Shelter
Perform seasonal yard work at one of the three homeless shelters in Waukesha to keep the facility looking kept and inviting. Individuals or small groups are welcome.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / 16
Dates/Times / Days/times vary
Shelter Office Receptionist
Assist in the office area of a homeless shelter. Greet individuals, answer phones, file, make copies, handle mail, compile intake and drop-in packets, computer work, and other general clerical duties as needed.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / 16
Dates/Times / All week - 8-12:00 p.m. or 1-5:00 p.m.
Shelter Organization and Assistance
Help the three homeless shelters that Hebron House operates run smoothly and efficiently by assisting as needed. Greet individuals, answer phones, help with minor office work, log and organize donated clothes, diapers, or food in the food pantry area, distribute items to other shelters, water flowers, get rooms ready, help with meals, etc. There are always projects to be performed and guests to welcome and provide assistance to.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / 16, younger with adult supervision
Dates/Times / All week - choose a time between 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Visit or Play Games with Guests
Help to mend a broken spirit and be a Christian friend and walk along side an individual or family living temporarily in a homeless shelter in Waukesha. Provide emotional and spiritual support, chat, play games, watch children, refer individuals to community resources, and be a friend to a person in need.
Number of Volunteers / Open
Minimum Age / 16
Dates/Times / All week - choose a time between 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
The Women's Center
Volunteer Opportunities Addressing Housing Issues
Organization / The Women's Center
505 N. East Avenue
Waukesha, WI 53186
Mission / Providing safety and support to women and their children, and facilitating their development.
(Operates an emergency shelter for women and their children.)
Contact Person / Diane Ripple
Phone Number / 262-522-3845
Email /
Website / www.twcwaukesha.org
Furniture & Appliance Movers
Share your truck or muscles to be on call to pick up large item donations of furniture or appliances and move them to the donor's house or the shelter. The volunteer will supply usage of their truck or van, gasoline, auto insurance, and driver's license.
Due to the nature of this agency, confidentiality restrictions, and to learn about the required protocol for interaction with clients, prior to volunteering for this position volunteers must complete a 20 hour advocate training program. Trainings are offered on two consecutive weekends on Fridays and Saturdays, and are offered four times per year. However, episodic volunteers not coming in contact with clients may not need to attend the training session.