Volunteer Roles

Why volunteer with us?

Our volunteer team is motivated to give back to their community and make new friends, with our annual volunteer survey showing that 99% of our volunteers enjoy the time they share with us.
Bendigo Foodshare is committed to provide a safe, fun and inclusive volunteer experience, by building a team that feels their contribution is valued. Our roles are diverse and flexible, allowing volunteers to fit their time with us around their other commitments and bring their strengths to their volunteering. For those interested in developing new skills or seeking to expand their qualifications, Bendigo Foodshare will work with you to support your personal development.

There are regular shifts available for the following roles, or if you can provide back-up assistance for us to call in the event someone is unable to attend their shift, it would also be fantastic.

Foodshare Floor

This active and diverse role helps with packing orders for our food relief partners; loading and unloading vans, as well as receiving, sorting and organising food donations. Every day in the shed is different, and this team responds to the needs on the day guided by the Shift Coordinator.
You will be working as part of a small team of 4-10 people and based at our shed. These shifts are suited to “morning people”.

Skills that will help you in this role include:

moderate level of fitness; you will be on your feet and lifting crates of food
good awareness of your surroundings; there is a forklift operating in the workspace and vehicles regularly come and go
team player who is happy to work with others from all walks of life

* Morning shifts vary in start and finish times:

Monday 7am-9am & 9am-12pm
Tuesday 7am-12pm
Wednesday 7am-9am & 9am-12pm
Thursday 9am -12pm

Fruit and Vegetable Sort

1-3pm, Monday to Thursday

We receive daily fresh food donations from supermarkets, grocers, bakers, hospitality businesses, farmers and gardeners. As part of the afternoon shift, you sort these donations to ensure that all fresh food donations meet quality requirements and get them boxed up ready to go out to our food relief partners.
Every day in the shed is different and this team responds to the needs of the day guided by the Shift Coordinator. You will be working with a small team of 4-6 people and be based at our shed.
Skills that will help you in this role include:

moderate level of fitness, you will be on your feet and lifting crates of food.
good awareness of your surroundings, there is a forklift operating in the workspace and vehicles regularly come and go
team player who is happy to work with others from all walks of life

Van Driver

Various times, every day

Hopefully you’ve seen our vans about town! Drivers are either delivering orders to our food relief partners or collecting donations from supermarkets and other businesses in Bendigo and across Central Victoria. Our drivers start as a driver assistant to learn the ropes and the routes. Once you’re happy to step into the driver’s seat, you will need to keep Bendigo Foodshare staff updated of vehicle maintenance issues, conduct daily vehicle checks, unload and load food crates, ensure that any load that you are carrying is secured and safe, and help load and unload at multiple stops. You will be partnered with an assistant to help with the physical aspects of this role.
Vans run 7 days a week with various start times and shift lengths depending on the day.
Skills that will help you in this role include:

Full drivers licence (acceptable) with experience handling larger vehicles or a Heavy Drivers Licence (preferred)
Physically fit; you will be hopping in and out, lifting and moving crates
Friendly and approachable; you are our face of Bendigo Foodshare, representing us as you interact with our valuable partners
Ability to keep basic records and notes

Van Driver Assistant

Various times, every day

Ride shot-gun and help our driver with loading and unloading of deliveries and/or collections. This role is a great stepping stone into the driver role, as it allows you to learn the routes and the paperwork while not having to concentrate on driving as well.

Vans run 7 days a week, with various start times and shift lengths depending on the day.