If you’re interested in bringing a group to volunteer with us, we’d love to have you! We frequently host groups from businesses, community organizations, local schools, and more. Before submitting a request form, please review the information below.
All group reservations take place on site at our Hunger Awareness Center in Fairfield, OH.
Group reservations are best for 7 or more people. For smaller groups, we recommend choosing an individual volunteer opportunity with enough openings for everyone who would like to participate.
For the best experience, we can accommodate groups of up to 15 volunteers. Activities are assigned based on current needs, so we cannot guarantee specific projects during your visit.
We recommend submitting your group request at least one month before your preferred volunteer date, as reservations fill quickly. Shifts are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
Volunteers must be at least 10 years old. Student groups with children under 14 must have one adult for every five children. For student groups ages 14 and older, one adult chaperone is required.
Please review the available group reservation dates on the calendar below, then complete the request form. Allow up to three business days for a response. Requests are reviewed in the order they are received.
Please fill this form out to reserve a time for your group to come volunteer with Shared Harvest.
Volunteer activities in the Hunger Awareness Center may include sorting and packing donations, preparing senior food boxes for distribution, packing food bags for elementary-aged children, repacking dry goods, and other projects based on our current needs.
When you arrive, drive to the right of the first building and continue around back to the Hunger Awareness Center, which is the blue building.
Parking is available in the spaces next to the Hunger Awareness Center. Spaces can be limited, so carpooling is greatly appreciated whenever possible.
For Hunger Awareness Center events, please enter through the main entrance doors. You will sign in at the kiosk in the Volunteer Room. When it is time for your event to begin, a staff member will lead your group to the warehouse and provide instructions for that day’s activity.
Our sign-in process is quick and simple when everyone registers in advance. Please plan for your group to arrive 5–10 minutes before the event begins so we can make the most of the full two-hour volunteer shift.
Please dress comfortably in seasonally appropriate clothing. Closed-toe shoes are required for all volunteer activities for safety reasons. Please avoid excessive jewelry or loose, dangling items that could get caught while working.
We greatly appreciate groups bringing a case of water when they volunteer. This helps us keep water available for volunteers throughout the day.
Everyone may bring a reusable water bottle, but we ask that all other personal belongings be left in your vehicles. If you must bring items inside, you may leave them on the available hooks in the Volunteer Room when you arrive. Outside food and beverages are not permitted in our warehouses.
Individual registration helps us prepare for your group, collect required waivers, communicate any last-minute event updates, and maintain an accurate record of who is on site in case of an emergency. Creating an online account in advance also makes sign-in quick and easy when you arrive.
Everyone attending, regardless of age, must create an account using the link provided by our Community Engagement Manager once your event is confirmed. The process is quick, and once you have an account, signing up for future volunteer opportunities is even easier.
Weekend and evening group reservations are not available at this time.
Your group is welcome to sign up for off-site distributions, which take place a few times each month on Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings.
No. We maintain a consistent schedule to manage event preparation, staff coverage, and facility operations. For that reason, all Hunger Awareness Center volunteer events are scheduled during the 9:00 – 11:00am or 12:30 – 2:30pm time slots.
We have tried longer events in the past, and two hours has proven to be the best experience for volunteers and staff alike.
The best experience we can offer at this time is for groups of 10–15 people. If you have more than 15 volunteers, we recommend splitting your group into two separate events.
We can occasionally identify projects for larger groups, so you are welcome to contact our Community Engagement Manager. However, larger group accommodations are not guaranteed.
Yes. We have a Community Room in the Hunger Awareness Center that can be reserved free of charge before or after your volunteer event. Please include a note in your group reservation request or contact our Community Engagement Manager directly to let us know you are interested.
