Oldham Foodbank is run entirely by volunteers who work AM and PM shifts throughout the week. Some people are here for one shift a week, others come along for several. It all depends how much time people have and how much they want to give.
If you’re interested in joining the team, there are several key roles for volunteers at Oldham Foodbank.
Warehouse
Incoming food donations are processed, dated and stored in the warehouse. Volunteers are responsible for receiving donations from kind members of the public and from the foodbank van when it returns from collections.
Incoming food donations are weighed and processed. After that, warehouse volunteers date items that need to be stored, and send food that is needed soon over to where it is packed.
Volunteering in the warehouse is an active and physical role that can involve movement and heavy lifting. However, there’s something for everyone. Tasks such as dating and storing food do not require heavy lifting.
Picking and packing
Pickers and packers are responsible for putting together food orders. As a volunteer, you’ll walk around the foodbank picking food off the shelves to be sent out to those who need it.
Once the order has been picked, you’ll weigh the food and pack it into bags, before leaving it for the drivers who will take it out for delivery.
Picking and packing is active but not too demanding, and involves little to no heavy lifting.
Drivers
Since early 2020, Oldham Foodbank has been running as a delivery service, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Drivers are essential. They deliver the food parcels to service users who live within the Oldham area.
Drivers need to have their own vehicle and be fully insured. It is possible to get reimbursement for petrol costs.
We’re also looking for volunteer van drivers. This role involves driving the Oldham Foodbank van to collect food from donation drop-off points such as supermarkets. The food collected is then delivered to the warehouse ready for processing.
Admin
Behind the scenes are a team of admin volunteers who answer the phones, process vouchers, and speak to clients and service-users.
Admin volunteers should be fairly computer literate and be confident speaking to our service users over the phone.
Oldham Foodbank needs you!
Oldham Foodbank are looking for new volunteers. At the moment, we are in particular need of drivers. We’re also taking on volunteers across other roles.
If this is something that interests you and you’d like to find out more, please contact us on 0161 622 1061.