Rosa stocks shelves in the Fresh Foods Market, wearing a red Metro Caring apron.

Volunteers feed our movement.

You make our neighbors feel welcome and keep our shelves stocked with high-quality food. High schoolers, elders, and everyone in between work together to help families put nutritious food on the table. Whether you’re a foodie, you thrive on good organization, or enjoy meeting new people, we think you’ll love volunteering with us!

Volunteer helps a community member roll their cart out to their car.

Individual Volunteering

For individuals or families looking for an impactful way to get involved in your community. All volunteers must be at least 14 years old.

Become a Volunteer
Schedule Next Shift

Returning volunteers only

Volunteers spoon rice into bag wearing company shirts.

Group Volunteer

For groups of 4 to 10 people. Bring your workplace, book club, or faith group for a rewarding half-day or evening volunteering experience.

Sign Up a Group

Meet Our Volunteers

Elaine, Welcome Center Greeter

“I love it here. I really do. We all are human and all have things that happen to us–good or bad–but it doesn’t change the inside of us. It’s a right to have good food.”

Volunteer since 2019

Tony, Fresh Foods Market Meat Counter Server

“I wanted to do something positive. I chose Metro Caring. I like the people here. I like talking to our community, having conversations, hearing how they’re feeling. I form a bond with them, so I know them well.”

AARP volunteer since 2022

Pat, Warehouse Stocker

“Metro Caring provides an excellent opportunity to volunteer and help community members experiencing hunger and basic social services. The staff and volunteers are a pleasure to work with and have a passion to support Metro Caring’s mission. I enjoy every day I am here.”

Volunteer since 2020

18+

Languages spoken by volunteers

23,582

Annual volunteer hours

3.3

Million pounds of food sorted

$850K

Value of volunteers’ time

FAQs

When are volunteer opportunities?

We have weekday and weekend volunteer shifts, morning, afternoon and evening! Explore our shifts for individual volunteers and groups. We ask that you attend the full shift.

Can I volunteer multiple shifts in a single day?

Yes! We would love to have you for a half-day or a full-day, whatever works best for you!

Do you accept people who need to do community service?

Yes, we can help people fulfill community service hours.

Is parking available?

Saint Joseph Hospital allows Metro Caring volunteers to park on the top floor of their parking garage, located on Ogden Street between 19th and 20th avenues. Parking is free. We kindly ask that all volunteers park in the St. Joseph Hospital Midtown Medical Offices Parking Garage. Our community member carts weigh an average of 80 lbs. and we want to reserve the parking lot for them.

What work do I do as a volunteer?

We have a variety of volunteer roles, from welcoming shoppers, sorting food, stocking the shelves, and more. You will get assigned a role on the day of your shift–and it could change each shift, so you always get to try new things. We can accommodate different physical abilities when we place you for your role.

What do I wear to volunteer?

Closed-toe shoes are required at all times. We ask that you dress appropriately for the work you might do, and clothes that you might be okay with getting a little dirty.

Do I need to bring anything?

It might be helpful to bring a water bottle and a sweater (between our cooler and freezer, it can tend to be a little cool in some places). We have lockers available to store your personal belongings. Please bring your own lock.

Do I need to bring gloves?

Metro Caring will provide gloves for every shift.

What if it snows?

Metro Caring’s snow policy aligns with Denver Public Schools. If DPS is closed, we are too, and you do not need to show up for your volunteer shift. If we are closed, we will email all volunteers, post on social media, and put an alert on our website.

Can I bring food to donate?

Of course!

Can children volunteer?

We accept volunteers who are 14 (in high school) or older. They can volunteer without a parent or guardian as long as they have a waiver signed by a guardian.

What if I have a food allergy?

We cannot guarantee that our volunteers will not come into contact with their allergen while volunteering in our warehouse. Many of the donations we receive are loose items or in compromised containers, which puts the food items at risk of cross-contamination. For volunteers with more severe food allergies, volunteering at our welcome desk might be the best fit. Let a staff member know so we can place you appropriately.