Volunteer at Largest Volunteer Pantry in NYC

We provide free food and clothing to anyone in need. And we are serious about an inclusive community. We do not tolerate any discrimination, we're EVERYONE friendly, and we can accommodate peoples with disabilities. Our workplace is safe, and there is hands-on training for any activity that is new to you.

In 2016, we started with just a supply room in a school. We were a few volunteers dedicated to helping New Yorkers who struggled to make ends meet. Every Saturday, we supplied 500 families with groceries we bought, rescued, or that were donated from local grocery stores and food drives.

When Covid-19 sickened thousands and shut down the city's economy, food insecurity doubled overnight. We did everything we could to scale up, and we were reaching 9,000 families a day in our crisis-converted school house. It was an intense , but we are now operating where few others can and we're here to stay. Since the COVID lock down we've fed iver 9 million New Yorkers and counting.

We also provide food for 275 other food pantries. They arrive each day with rented trucks to pick up and take food to all 5 boroughs, Nassau County, Yonkers, and Mt. Vernon.

Volunteers can expect to form a strong connection with our existing teams, and will feel a great sense of purpose driven by helping others. In just one single day, you might hand out food to hundreds, or move 10,000 pounds of groceries. You might bag dry goods, or vegetables and meet clients at the front door. There are dozens of things to do, and we can place people where they feel most comfortable and valued.

We are also now the main hub for clothing for the incoming migrants from Venezuela, Costa Rica, Honduras, etc. We could use your help in sorting clothing and assisting families so they receive the proper size clothing, shoes, jackets, etc. We have already assisted 50,000 migrants and we will have thousands more come through our doors in the next few months.

We could not do what we do without the help and support of our volunteers. We have had over 30,000 volunteers come through our doors in the past 3 years. We appreciate our volunteers so much that we feed you a homemade meal every day at 12:30. You can also have breakfast before you begin in the morning!

Hope to see you real soon! We are one huge family!

• Food Bag Packers: One packs food bags from bulk/loose groceries; this position may require light lifting, long periods of standing, and working primarily indoors.

• Front Door: One greets clients as they come to 9MR to pick up food supplies; during their daily job functions, one will be utilizing apps to register clients’ information and hand out food boxes. This position will require light to medium lifting and working primarily outdoors. Spanish and English bilingual skills are highly preferred.

• Sorting and Packing: Sorting and bagging produce in our Produce Room.

• Inside Mover: One will be moving food to the front door, putting food in the fridge, moving food around in the Produce Room, bringing food in from the yard.

• Parking Lot Movers: One will be moving pallets using manual pallet jacks or electric pallet jacks from one place to another. During their daily job functions, one will also assist with loading and unloading commercial trucks using pallet jacks. Electric pallet jacks training will be provided onsite. This position requires prolonged periods of working outside. Occasionally, one maybe asked to direct traffic in the parking lot or on the street within close vicinity.

• Clothing Sorter: One will be sorting new clothes into infants, childrens, mens, and ladies, also small, medium, large, and extra large.

• Forklift Driver and Truck Driver: One will be loading and unloading trucks using a forklift; if selected, one will also driver commercial Ryder trucks. A driver’s license will be required, and a background check may be required.

• Volunteer Drivers: One will be using one’s OWN VEHICLE to transport food supplies from 9MR to an individual’s home.

• Administrative Support: One will be responsible for answering phone calls, doing simple counting, recording data into Google Suite platforms, completing simple office duties.

Please come in with an ideal position in mind, we will delegate your assignment based on your preferences during our kick-off before the event.

More About Us:

We will provide breakfast and a hot lunch daily, our entre selections will accommodate vegetarian options as well. We are doing our best to ensure the health and safety of our volunteers, hence gloves will be provided based on needs or requests.

Parking spaces are available around the neighborhood. We are conveniently located near subway stations, bus stops and Citi bike docks.

Check us out on

Instagram @9millionreasons

Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/9millionreasons/

or by visiting http://www.9mr.nyc

Host or Publisher Emily Hauser