Volunteer with CHiPS
Help us feed hungry New Yorkers!
Hungry New Yorkers Need YOU!
We are always in need of volunteers to support our programs.
Opportunities are available in our Kitchen and Food Pantry, at our Mobile Pantry Locations, and in the community doing Food Rescue.
Please note: The minimum volunteer age for CHiPS is 16.
For individuals under the age of 16 who wish to help out at CHiPS, please see our drives and in-kind donations page.
Volunteer Roles
Volunteer shifts at CHiPS are 2-3 hours long and take place Monday through Saturday between the hours of 8:15 AM to 3:00 PM. We are closed on Sundays.
CHiPS HQ
200 4th Ave
Brooklyn, NY
11217
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General Kitchen Support/Food Prep: Support breakfast and lunch service in the kitchen by carrying out general tasks with guidance from staff. You may be asked to help prepare, cook & package meals, make sandwiches and other food items, portion and package snacks, distribute food and non-food items, and assist in the post-meal clean up.
Food Service - Window: Support breakfast and after-hours service by preparing the window area for meal distribution and handing out meals.
Guest Check-In: Support breakfast, lunch and pantry service by checking in guests who are receiving a meal and/or pantry goods.
Pantry Distribution: Join our pantry managers, on-site or at our mobile pantry stops, to help distribute pantry goods to our Brooklyn community.
Pantry Set-Up: Assist pantry managers with pantry set-up for on-site distribution. This shift does require heavy lifting.
Contact volunteer@chipsonline.org with any questions.
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Food Rescuers collect donated food from businesses and deliver it to CHiPS, where we can turn it into meals for those who visit us – prevent food waste and feed the hungry!
Interested in helping rescue food in the neighborhood? Please visit our Food Rescue page for more information about our current needs.
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If you have a skill or expertise that you believe can make a difference here at CHiPS, please let us know! We are always looking for creative new ways to engage volunteers in the work that we do here at CHiPS. These special opportunities are not always available, but in the past, we’ve had volunteer grant writers, web designers, database managers, and other specialized volunteers who have made a huge difference.
Contact volunteer@chipsonline.org with your skills!
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If you are unable to volunteer during our in-person hours there are still plenty of other ways to help out, including making and donating meals, sandwiches or snacks, organizing a food drive, and more! Simply email us If you are interested in those options or if you have any other ideas!
Do you have any additional questions about volunteering? Please email us at volunteer@chipsonline.org.
How to Get Started
Step 1
Fill out the volunteer application.
The final step of the application will automatically prompt you to sign up for Step 2.
Step 2
Attend a new volunteer orientation.
These orientations are held virtually on select Fridays at 2 PM and select Saturdays at 12 PM.
Step 3
Sign up for open shifts through our portal.
Volunteer shifts at CHiPS are 2-3 hours long and take place Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM and on Saturdays: 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM. We are closed on Sundays.
What to Expect
Volunteer shifts are offered daily in the Kitchen & Food Pantry and at our Mobile Pantry Locations. These shifts are between 2 -3 hours and take place between: 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM Monday through Friday and 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM on Saturdays. We are CLOSED on SUNDAYS.
Community Meals Volunteers
Our community meals program takes place Monday - Saturday and serves breakfast and lunch. From preparing food to portioning, packing, and serving meals—and even cleaning up—volunteers support the entire food service process. Every day, volunteers prepare hundreds of bagels and sandwiches, work in the kitchen alongside our chef chopping vegetables and packing hot lunches, help to sort and repack food donations, and, most importantly, serve the food to those who visit us.
Food & Mobile Pantry Volunteers
Our Food Pantry program takes place on Thursdays and Saturdays on-site between 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM and our Mobile Pantry Program takes place on Tuesdays at 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM, and on Wednesdays from 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM. We provide those who visit us with takeaway bags of pantry goods as well as fresh vegetable options. Volunteers will help check in guests for the pantry program as well as help distribute pantry bags and vegetables.
