VOLUNTEER

Volunteering at CHiPS!

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at CHiPS. We couldn’t do the work we do without the help and support of volunteers like you!

The first step to joining as a volunteer is to fill out our volunteer application and then attend a new volunteer orientation. The orientation is held virtually on Fridays at 2PM; the final step of the application will prompt you to select and sign up for an upcoming orientation date. Please note, our minimum volunteer age is 16.

After you attend an orientation, you can sign up for open shifts through our online volunteer portal. We have volunteer shifts at CHiPS Monday through Saturday from 8:15AM to 3:15PM. We are closed on Sundays.

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!

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Special Projects 2024 

 

CHIPS has several projects where we need your special expertise.

We have a high need for Spanish speakers on a daily basis 

Here is the project list. The volunteer need is in boldface.

  1. Salesforce Data Clean up (volunteers must have experience using salesforce)
  2. Outreach and Research  
  3. Food Rescue in the Park Slope neighborhood. Collect extra food from local establishments to donate to CHiPS.
  4. Social Media Volunteers: Create and post stories and posts on our social media pages to publicize CHiPS. 
Please contact Melissa Newkirk at volunteer@chipsonline.org to share your interests and availability. Some of these tasks can be done remotely; others are onsite. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. The work we do at CHiPS can’t be done without the support of our volunteers like you. THANK YOU!
 
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Types of Volunteer
 
Opportunities at CHiPS
 

There are many ways to get involved here at CHiPS. Please see below for more information about volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups.

Individual Volunteering

Volunteer shifts are offered daily in the Soup Kitchen & Food Pantry and are between 2 – 3 hours long. In-person volunteering in the Soup Kitchen & Food Pantry takes place between: 8:30AM – 3:15PM Monday through Saturday. We are CLOSED on SUNDAYS.

    • 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, they work in the kitchen alongside our chef chopping vegetables and packing hot lunches, they help to sort and repack food donations, and, most importantly, they serve the food to those who visit us. 
    • Our Food Pantry program takes place on Thursdays and Saturdays on-site during and our mobile pantry program takes place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. We provide those who visit us with takeaway bags of pantry goods as well as fresh vegetable options. Volunteers will help to check-in guests for the pantry program as well as help to distribute pantry bags and vegetables.

Volunteer shifts are offered daily in CHiPS Office and are between 2 – 3 hours long. In-person volunteering in the office takes place between: 8:15AM – 4PM Monday through Friday. We are CLOSED on WEEKENDS.

Volunteer Roles in The Soup Kitchen/Food Pantry:

Food Service: Support breakfast and lunch service in the soup 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.

Breakfast Shift Leader: If you choose this role, you must first volunteer for the be trained on the set up of to-go breakfast service and its related tasks. The shift leader, under minimal supervision, helps to guide other volunteers on necessary tasks to ensure a smooth Breakfast service. You must be comfortable with giving direction to others.

Kitchen Opener/ Chef Assistant: If you choose this role, you must first volunteer for the Breakfast Opener Shift and be trained in the kitchen and its related opening tasks. You must be comfortable in a kitchen setting, familiar with food preparation including chopping vegetables, processing meat etc.

Organizing: With hundreds of meals being served daily, we have a constant stream of items coming in our door. We are always in need of an extra pair of hands to keep things organized! This could be organizing supplies or food, closets or fridges, or toiletries or pantry goods.

Pantry Bag Packer: Help assemble pantry bags with the items available for that week.

Pantry & Vegetable Distribution: Help distribute pantry bags and vegetables to those who visit our pantry program.

Volunteer Roles in CHiPS Office/Frances Residence:

Office/Administrative Support: Includes the following shifts, which vary by need:

Reception Desk (Female Only): 

      • Greeting all visitors through the intercom and welcoming them, if needed, once they are buzzed in. (Includes residents, volunteers, staff, deliveries etc)
      • Greeting all callers, providing them with information about our services and connecting them with appropriate staff, and taking messages as needed.
      • Help to sign in-and-out residents of the Frances Residence and/or their guests and assist with any issues or needs they may have. 
      • Communicates with food service staff using two-way radio and helps to serve food service guests during sandwich only hours (1pm – 4pm).
      • Perform other office tasks as needed, which may include: scanning, printing, data entry, folding, stuffing, and posting mail, or other miscellaneous projects.
      • Assist residence and/or administrative staff with needs they may have.

Data Entry: 

      • Support data entry needs for a variety of platforms including google sheets, excel, salesforce, Bloomerang etc. 
      • Eye for detail and familiarity with at least one of the platforms.

Frances Residence Support: Includes the following shifts, which vary by need:

      • Apartment Staging: Set up an empty apartment for a new resident with all the items she needs for it to feel like home. Supplies will be in the apartment – everything needs to be opened up and placed in the appropriate location. Some tasks include making the bed with new sheets and comforter, setting up the kitchen with pots and pans and plates etc, hanging the shower curtain and setting out rugs in the bathroom.
      • Resident Arrival: Help a resident (who may be in her third trimester or postpartum) get settled into her new home. Can include helping to unpack belongings, decorate, organize etc.
      • Resident Departure: Help a resident (who may be chasing a toddler around) get packed up to move out of the Frances Residence. Can include helping to pack belongings, organize, or clean up.

And 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.

Do you have any additional questions about volunteering? Please email us at volunteer@chipsonline.org.