How You Can Help
Volunteering at CFR is a rewarding experience. All of the tasks below are performed by volunteers on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the days CFR is open and serving clients. We invite you, your friends, your co-workers, or your faith community to join with us in this important work! Email our lead coordinator for more information about how to become a volunteer.
Opener
Help prepare coolers for the drivers, ensure a sanitary food sorting area, assist as drivers unload coolers and help the day coordinator as needed.
Drivers
use their own vehicles to collect food from a list of pre-determined donors. Drivers pick up coolers loaded with ice packs at CFR, drive to each donor listed on their route, pack the donated food into the coolers, and return the full coolers to CFR.
Food Sorters
Unload the food, sort it into coolers and help assemble food bags for distribution.
Food Distributors
Help assemble and distribute bags of food to clients who visit CFR from 4 – 6 p.m. As coolers loaded with food are emptied, food distributors also help wash coolers.
Volunteers age 55 and older
CFR is now partners with Common Good RSVP, a network for volunteers age 55 and over. Volunteers who enroll in Common Good can receive reimbursement for mileage to/from/during CFR volunteer activities. Common Good is a program of Catholic Charities Diocese of Winona, operated under the direction of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency. Common Good also provides supplemental insurance for volunteers. Enrollment forms are available at CFR.