Few things make hunger feel solvable like showing up in person. Behind every box of food that reaches a neighbor in need is a volunteer who sorted, packed, or handed it across the table. Since 1981, the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma has fed families across 24 counties — and it relies on volunteers to do it. Here is everything you need to know to lend a hand, whether you are coming on your own, bringing a group, or fulfilling community service hours.
What Volunteers Actually Do
Volunteering at the Food Bank is hands-on and genuinely useful. Most shifts involve sorting donated food and assembling boxes that are sent out to partner pantries and feeding programs. Beyond the warehouse, volunteers help power drive-through distribution events, the Free Farmers Market, and Farm-to-Table produce initiatives, and they lend a hand at special community events such as The Dinner Party . Whatever the task, the work translates directly into meals on tables across eastern Oklahoma.
Volunteer as an Individual
If you want to give a few hours on your own or with a friend or two, individual volunteering is the easiest place to start. Browse open shifts at our Tulsa location and register online through the Food Bank’s volunteer page. Sign up for a time that works for you, show up ready to help, and you will be put to work making a real difference.
Bring Your Group, Team, or Congregation
Group volunteering is one of the best ways to build camaraderie while giving back. The Food Bank welcomes businesses, clubs, civic organizations, schools, sports teams, and religious organizations. A few details make group visits run smoothly:
- Group size is 6 to 35 volunteers. If your group is larger than 35, reach out with at least 30 days’ notice so the team can make arrangements.
- Reserve early. After you submit the group registration form, a volunteer coordinator will contact you within two to three business days to confirm and schedule your shift.
- Everyone registers individually. All group members must complete their own registration through the Volunteer Hub at least seven days before the shift.
Ready to organize your team? Start with the group volunteer sign-up.
What to Expect on Your Shift
Volunteer tasks are active. Some fully assembled food boxes can weigh up to 40 pounds, and most roles involve standing for extended periods. That said, the Food Bank is committed to accommodating volunteers who may have difficulty lifting or standing, so there is a place for nearly everyone. If you need accessibility accommodations, contact the volunteer team at least 48 hours before your scheduled shift and they will help.
Satisfying Court-Ordered Community Service
The Food Bank also accepts volunteers completing court-ordered community service hours for nonviolent offenses, with roles in food packing and on the maintenance and warehouse teams. Important: court-ordered volunteers must sign up through the dedicated court-ordered registration form — not the standard Volunteer Hub — or hours cannot be credited. Once you register, the team will explain how your service hours are recorded and validated.
Why Your Time Matters
Oklahoma is the nation’s fifth most food-insecure state, and one in four children in eastern Oklahoma struggles with hunger. Every hour a volunteer gives multiplies the Food Bank’s ability to move food efficiently to the neighbors who need it. You do not need special skills or experience — just a willingness to help. It is one of the most direct, tangible ways to fight hunger in your own community.
How to Get Started
Questions before you sign up? Reach the Volunteer Services team at kmirando@okfoodbank.org or 918-936-4545. Otherwise, pick a shift, register online, and come ready to make a difference.
Give a few hours. Feed your neighbors.
Browse open shifts and sign up today at okfoodbank.org/volunteer. Individuals and groups are always welcome in Tulsa and McAlester.
