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Volunteer at your local food bank

Support your neighbors and give back to your community by volunteering at Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.

1 in 6

Oklahomans experiences hunger every day.
Do your part to end hunger by signing up to volunteer.
Register Here

5th

Oklahoma is the nation’s fifth most food-insecure state.
Make a reservation for groups of 6 to 35 volunteers.
Register Your Group

1 in 4

kids in Oklahoma struggle daily with hunger.

Volunteer at a time that works for you

When you volunteer with the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, you’re making a real difference in the lives of your neighbors. Whether you want to volunteer as an individual or with a group, we offer opportunities for everyone.

While most of our volunteer opportunities are in Tulsa and McAlester, we serve 24 counties throughout eastern Oklahoma and partner with more than 600 local food pantries and feeding programs.

You can also help out with drive-through distribution events, the Free Farmers Market, Farm-to-Table initiatives, and special community events like The Dinner Party.

Volunteer Hub

Volunteer Schedule

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays

  • 9 am – 12 pm
  • 1 pm – 3 pm
  • 6 pm – 8 pm

Fridays

  • 9 am – 12 pm

Saturdays

  • 9 am to 12 pm
  • 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm

FAQ For Volunteers

Find answers to your questions about volunteering at Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.

New volunteers

We offer volunteer shifts on various days and at times that accommodate all schedules:

Mondays

  • 9 am – 12 pm
  • 1 pm – 3 pm

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

  • 9 am – 12 pm
  • 1 pm – 3 pm
  • 6 pm – 8 pm

Fridays

  • 9 am – 12 pm

Saturdays

  • 9 am to 12 pm
  • 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm

Visit our Volunteer Hub to see a complete list.

We offer diverse volunteer opportunities suitable for everyone. A typical shift mainly involves assisting in the sorting and packing of food for programs that support our local community and beyond.

In addition, volunteer opportunities are available with drive-through distribution events, the Free Farmers Market, Farm to Table initiatives, and special community events like The Dinner Party.

The launch of our enhanced culinary center will allow volunteers with a passion for the culinary arts to assist in food preparation and production.

Aside from a smiling face and helping hands, there are minimal special skills required to volunteer with us. If you have a passion for organization or culinary arts or any unique skillset, we encourage you to contact us. We believe in harnessing your passions to make a positive impact on ending food insecurity in our community, and we’re eager to explore creative volunteering opportunities with you.

If you have any questions about volunteering with us, please contact:

Karen Mirando
kmirando@okfoodbank.org
918-936-4545

Teressia Kher
tkehr@okfoodbank.org
918-936-4512

If you have any questions about court appointed volunteering, please contact:

Judy Treat
jtreat@okfoodbank.org
918-936-4585

The Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma serves 24 counties throughout eastern Oklahoma. While the majority of our volunteer opportunities are located at our Tulsa and McAlester branches, we partner with more than 600 local agencies and programs across eastern Oklahoma. We’d be delighted to help you discover volunteering options through our network. Contact us to learn more.

Some packaged food boxes can weigh up to 40 pounds when fully assembled, and most volunteering tasks involve prolonged standing. Nevertheless, we are dedicated to accommodating volunteers who may have difficulty lifting heavy boxes or standing for extended periods.

If you require accessibility accommodations for your volunteer shift, please contact us at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled shift. This advance notice allows us to ensure your safety and comfort during your time with us.

Due to the nature of food sorting and packaging, volunteers are not allowed to wear open-toed shoes. In addition, we do not allow any outside food or drink in the facility during your volunteer shift.

Children volunteers

We’re committed to fostering the spirit of community giving from an early age, and welcome children 6 and up to join us as volunteers. We trust your judgment as to whether your child is ready to volunteer during shifts that last 2 to 3 hours.

For children under 16, we kindly ask that they volunteer alongside a parent or guardian.

To participate in a volunteer shift, each person must have an individual account registered through our Volunteer Hub. When scheduling a shift with family members or children, please ensure that each individual signs up separately using a personal account.

We host Family Day volunteering the first Tuesday of each month. On these days, we tailor the volunteer experience to accommodate families with children, often featuring fun activities, giveaways, and special events that everyone can enjoy together.

Satisfy your court-ordered service hours by volunteering.

Court-Ordered Service

Earn credit hours as you help fight hunger.

Food-insecure families need your help.

More than half of Oklahoman’s live paycheck to paycheck, leaving too many families one unexpected bill or incident away from falling off a financial cliff. Join our mission to help end food insecurity by hosting a food drive or fund drive.

Host a Food or Fund Drive

“My family is big…But if I had one wish for my family, it would be that we all have food to eat.”

— Zoey

Culinary Center

As the nation’s first food bank to introduce an on-site professional kitchen, the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma created the Culinary Center to prepare nutritious meals from perishable food that would otherwise be discarded.

  • Before our center was built, more than 30% of perishable food donations went to waste because the Food Bank could not distribute food fast enough. Now less than 5% of perishable food donations go to waste. 
  • On average, the center prepares more than 18,000 pounds of food each month. These meals are served hot through mobile food trucks and are frozen and distributed by our partner agencies.
  • Mobile eatery food trucks feed children during the summer and other school breaks. We also provide meals at school events, grocery distributions, senior centers, and fundraising events.
  • The Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation Culinary Trade Program offers a fresh start to low-income individuals by providing 16 weeks of culinary training. Students have opportunities to assist with all aspects of culinary services.
Volunteer Hub

Neighborhood News

Hunger hides, but people go hungry every day. Find out how we’re serving neighbors in your community as we work together to end hunger in eastern Oklahoma.

Headquarters – Tulsa

  • Call: 918-585-2800
  • Fax: 918-585-2862
  • 1304 N. Kenosha Avenue,
  • Tulsa, OK 74106
  • Hours: M – F 8:00 – 4:30
McAlester location
  • Call: 918-429-7755
  • Fax: 918-585-2862
  • 2119 N. Main Street,
  • McAlester, OK 74501
  • Hours: M – F 8:00 – 4:30

Please call in advance before visiting us to make sure the appropriate person is here to help you.

Helpful Links

Feeding Partner Portal
Board Portal

Please call in advance before visiting us to make sure the appropriate person is here to help you.

© 2024 Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma