Needs From: Braves Volunteer - Bradley University

Throughout each month, we have opportunities for volunteers to help distribute food to agencies at our warehouse.

Distribution Volunteer Opportunities

Peoria Load Out Week Held the second full week of the monthMonday afternoons, 12:30 pm - 3 pmTuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, Shifts: 7:30 am - 11:30 am & 11:30 am - 3 pmExtra Distribution Held every Tuesday (except during Peoria Load Out Week)Volunteer Shifts: 7:30 am - 11:30 am and 11:30 am - 3 pmBack Pack Program Held on the 1st Wednesday of every monthVolunteer Shifts: 7:30 am - 11:30 am & 11:30 am - 3 pm

Volunteer Activities

Cart Loader: Load carts with food chosen by agency from the pick list; must be able to lift light to moderate heavy boxes.Scanner/Shopper: Training required; Shop with the agency representative and then scan the items prior to them being loaded onto the cart.Vehicle Loader: Load the food into the agency's vehicle; New volunteers will shadow an experienced volunteer to learn the process.

Volunteers are invaluable to the mission of Midwest Food Bank. Volunteers will begin their shift with a brief orientation. Examples of volunteer opportunities include and are not limited to:

preparing disaster relief boxes repackaging bulk foods into manageable quantities for distribution supporting local distribution to food pantries

Day Time Volunteer Opportunities (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday):

These opportunities are open to individuals, families and/or groups.

Morning, 9 am - 11am (generally, some shifts vary) Afternoon, 1 pm - 3 pm (generally, some shifts vary)

Evening & Weekend Volunteer Opportunities (Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday):

Our Evening & Weekend Volunteer Opportunities are only for groups of 7 - 20 participants.

Evening volunteer opportunities are 2 hours in length beginning anywhere between 5pm & 6:30pm and ending between 7pm & 8:30pm.Weekend volunteer opportunities are also 2 hours in length and run from 9am - 11am.

Children & Youth Volunteers

We welcome children and youth aged 5 and older to volunteer with us. Anyone under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a parent and/or responsible adult. Parents must also sign a waiver prior to their child volunteering.

Please indicate your availability and number of volunteers when registering.  Based on existing schedule and confirmed volunteers, Midwest Food Bank will follow-up with you and send a link with the next steps necessary to complete your registration and waiver. 

If you have any questions, please contact Ileen Grebner at 309-691-5270 ext. 1 or igrebner@midwestfoodbank.org. 

Looking for a way to help those in need?

Midwest Food Bank is looking for volunteers to pick up food from our local grocers. Fresh and frozen foods are brought back to our warehouse and distributed to multiple food pantries and feeding programs that would have to purchase foods or do without.

Volunteers use our vehicles. We have 2 routes that run throughout the week. One of our 2 routes does not require any special drivers license. We are also seeking volunteers that may have a "C" drivers license to help operate the vehicle for the second route (or may be willing to obtain a C license).

Routes run mornings starting at 7:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Some lifting and loading required. Approximately 3-4 hours needed. There are 2 volunteers that work together on each route.

You can sign up for once a month or several times a month. It is up to you! We have many great volunteers who support these routes and would love to have you join us! 

We currently have a great need for help with these routes. We would love to explore if this is a way that you can give back to those in need!  If you have any questions, please contact Ileen Grebner at 309-691-5270 ext. 1 or igrebner@midwestfoodbank.org. 

Thank YOU!