The Food Pantry at Iowa is a student-run organization dedicated to supporting the basic needs of our Hawkeye community. Volunteering with us is a semester-long commitment, but we offer flexible scheduling to fit around your academic priorities. We ask volunteers to commit at least 1 hour per week, though we welcome anyone who wants to volunteer as much as 2-4 hours of their time weekly.

Volunteers can help during pantry operating hours and/or assist with inventory when deliveries arrive. During operating hours, you’ll supervise the pantry, greeting and assisting clients. For inventory shifts, you’ll help receive donations at the IMU, weighing donations and stocking pantry shelves. If you’re ready to make a difference on campus, email us at studorg-foodpantry@uiowa.edu to get started!

In addition to FERPA training, all volunteers are required to complete an online ICON course to learn about duties, responsibilities, and expectations. All of the rules that volunteers must follow are listed below:

  1. Eligibility to Volunteer

Anyone in the University of Iowa community may volunteer at the Food Pantry. Prospective volunteers should email studorg-foodpantry@uiowa.edu to express interest.

  1. Scheduling and Attendance Expectations

After a prospective volunteer emails to express interest, a Food Pantry staff member will follow up with information about days and times when volunteers are needed. If the volunteer can commit to one or more of those shifts, the staff member will add them to the pantry’s Excel-based schedule. Volunteers must be listed on the schedule before attending their first shift. Volunteers are expected to attend all scheduled shifts during the semester, excluding university breaks and finals week.

  1. Required Training

Once a volunteer has committed to one or more shifts, a staff member will email instructions for joining the Food Pantry’s online ICON course. All required training in the course must be completed before the volunteer’s first shift.

  1. GroupMe Communication

Before their first shift, volunteers must join the GroupMe(s) for the day(s) they are scheduled to work. These GroupMes are used for important shift-related communication.

  1. Absences and Communication

If a volunteer knows they will be unable to attend a scheduled shift, they must notify the appropriate day’s GroupMe as early as possible.

  1. Attendance Policy

A volunteer will be removed from the schedule if they have two unannounced absences or four announced ones within a single semester.

  1. Arrival Time

Volunteers should aim to arrive at least five minutes before the start of their shift to allow for a smooth transition between volunteer teams.

  1. Signing In and Out

Volunteers must sign in and out of each shift using the method specified by a lead volunteer or pantry staff member. This process allows staff to track attendance so that they know when a scheduled volunteer has not arrived and needs to be replaced. It also ensures that they can accurately record volunteer hours, particularly for volunteers who are fulfilling external requirements.

  1. Volunteer Identification

While working in the pantry, volunteers must wear at least one item that clearly identifies them as a volunteer. Acceptable items include a Food Pantry apron, a Food Pantry t-shirt, or a pantry-provided name tag.

  1. Supporting Rule Enforcement

When the pantry is open, volunteers should make a good-faith effort to ensure that clients are following pantry rules. Any concerns or conflicts should be referred to a lead volunteer or staff member.

  1. Food Repackaging

Some volunteers may occasionally be asked to portion and repackage bulk food items like rice, oats, or pasta. Volunteers must wear gloves at all times while performing this task.

  1. Confidentiality

The Food Pantry is a confidential resource. Volunteers are expected to protect client privacy and ensure that personal information is not shared or used outside of direct staff needs. Any breach of client confidentiality will result in immediate removal from the schedule.

  1. Volunteers as Pantry Clients

Volunteers who wish to shop at the pantry are subject to the same rules as all other clients. Volunteers may not shop during their shift but may shop immediately before or after their shift.