It’s Time to Volunteer: Give Back This Hunger Action Month

It’s time for you to volunteer. September is Hunger Action Month, and there’s no better moment to sign up for a volunteer shift here at the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. Since 1981, the Food Bank has fed families across 24 counties in eastern Oklahoma — and it relies on volunteers to do it. Right now, neighbors are skipping meals, parents are stretching grocery budgets that don’t stretch far enough, and kids are heading to school hungry. You can help change that story, and it starts with a single volunteer shift.

Volunteers like you make getting all this food out possible. You box or bag up produce or packaged foods like our Food for Kids items, and then we deliver them to where they’re needed most — food pantries, mobile distributions, schools, and senior programs throughout eastern Oklahoma. Every box you pack becomes a meal on someone’s table. It really is that direct.

If you’ve searched for a way to volunteer at a food bank, or you’ve been meaning to look into food bank volunteer opportunities in Oklahoma for a while now, consider this your sign. Here is everything you need to know to lend a hand, whether you’re coming on your own, bringing a group, or fulfilling court-ordered 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 — you’ll help sort produce, canned goods, and packaged items, then pack them into boxes and bags bound for programs across the region.

Some of what you’ll pack goes directly into Food for Kids bags, which help make sure kids have something to eat over the weekend or during school breaks when they don’t have access to school meals. Beyond the warehouse, volunteers also help power the Free Farmers Market, Farm-to-Table produce initiatives, our Culinary Center, and special community events like 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, individual volunteering is the easiest place to start. Browse open shifts at our Tulsa location and register online through the Volunteer Hub. We offer volunteer shifts across weekdays, evenings, and weekends, so there’s an option no matter what your calendar looks like:

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

• 9:00 am – 11:30 am
• 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
• 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Fridays

• 9:00 am – 11:30 am

Saturdays

• 9:00 am – 11:30 am
• 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Prefer a morning volunteer shift before the day gets away from you? We’ve got that. Need an evening volunteer option after work, or a weekend slot? We’ve got those too. Sign up for a time that works for you, show up ready to help, and you’ll 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 — as well as families. 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 — including kids. We welcome children age 8 and up, and kids under 16 should volunteer alongside a parent or guardian, making this a great kid-friendly outing for families in Tulsa.

A company volunteer day at the Food Bank is one of the most popular team-building activities we host Get coworkers out of the conference room and working side by side toward something bigger than a quarterly goal. Ready to organize your team, family, or congregation? 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’s 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.

• Dress code: Closed-toe shoes are required due to the nature of food sorting and packing, and outside food or drink isn’t allowed in the facility during your shift.
• Registration: Every volunteer needs an individual account through the Volunteer Hub, even if you’re signing up alongside family or group members.

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.

Tracking Your Volunteer Hours

Volunteering to meet a school requirement, a scholarship application, or a workplace giving goal? The Volunteer Hub logs your food bank volunteer hours automatically every time you sign in for a shift. Need documentation of your FBEO volunteer hours for a class, club, or court requirement? Just reach out to the volunteer team and they can help you pull a record of your hunger relief volunteer hours here in Oklahoma.

Volunteering in Tulsa

While the majority of volunteer opportunities are based at the Tulsa headquarters, the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma serves 24 counties across the region and partners with more than 600 local food pantries and feeding programs. Looking to volunteer at the McAlester food bank location specifically, or live outside the Tulsa area altogether? Reach out — the Food Bank partners with local agencies throughout eastern Oklahoma and can help connect you with volunteer opportunities closer to home.

Why Your Time Matters

Oklahoma is the nation’s second most food-insecure state, and one in four children in eastern Oklahoma struggles with hunger. Roughly one in five Oklahomans experiences hunger every day, and more than half of Oklahomans live paycheck to paycheck — often just one unexpected bill away from needing help. Every hour a volunteer gives multiplies the Food Bank’s ability to move food efficiently to the neighbors who need it. You don’t need special skills or experience, just a willingness to help. It’s one of the most direct, tangible ways to fight hunger in your own community.

Volunteer Ideas for Every Kind of Giver

Not sure what kind of volunteer opportunity fits you best? A few ideas to consider as you look through Tulsa volunteer opportunities and hunger-relief causes in general:

• Make it a standing date. Pick a recurring weekly or monthly shift so giving back becomes part of your normal rhythm, not a one-time event.
• Turn a birthday or holiday into service. Instead of gifts, ask friends and family to join you for a shift.
• Use it as a team outing. A shift sorting and packing food builds camaraderie while doing something that matters.
• Bring the whole family. A family volunteer outing in Tulsa is a memorable, hands-on way to talk with kids about generosity and community.
• Combine it with a drive. Host a food or fund drive with your workplace, church, or neighborhood, then follow it up by volunteering together to help sort what comes in.

How to Get Started

Questions before you sign up? Reach the Volunteer Services team:

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

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

Otherwise, pick a shift, register online, and come ready to make a difference.