EMERGENCY AID COALITION Houston Volunteer Opportunities ⋆ Serve for Good

About

What Is It?

An interfaith organization that collaborates to provide temporary assistance in the form of food, clothing, and other basic needs, with an emphasis on serving the working poor.

Help Needed:

Organize, pack, and serve food at the food pantry; help at the clothing center; distribute school supplies; and many more options. Please contact the EAC for COVID-related updates.

Details

Minimum Age to Volunteer

16. Younger children may volunteer with an adult; exact age depends on their ability to follow instructions.

Time Commitment

Varies. Volunteers usually help for 2-3 hours. Emergency Food Pantry shifts are 4 hours.

Suitable for Groups of Volunteers?

Yes (small groups)

Training Needed

Ability to follow instructions and work as a team member.

Help Needed

HELP AT EAC FOOD PANTRY

Stock and organize canned and dry goods, and bag bulk items such as laundry detergent, beans, and rice; pack grocery bags with food items from a designated list; package donuts for sack lunches; pack lunches and/or serve lunches; make sandwiches for sack lunches given to the hungry; pack and serve Sunday lunches.

THIRD SATURDAY WORKDAY

Help with “behind the scenes” tasks such as sorting/hanging clothing and stocking the food pantry on the 3rd Saturday morning of the month, from 10 AM-noon.

HELP AT THE EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY

The EAC provides staffing and volunteers to operate the Houston Food Bank’s Emergency Food Pantry (535 Portwall Street). Volunteers may interview clients and assist with check-out. Shifts are 3-7 PM Monday-Friday, and 9-12:30 PM and 12:30-4 PM Saturday. For volunteers 16 and older.

BOOKS & BACKPACKS

Assist with the annual back-to-school backpack and school supply distribution for pre-K through 12th grade children. Help families choose backpacks and grade-level school supplies. Early August.

HELP AT CLOTHING CENTER

Sort, size, and hang up clothes or welcome clients and help them find what they need for themselves and their families (M-F from 9 AM-noon).

ADMINISTRATIVE HELP

Input information into the data system, assist with fundraising events, help with phone calls and mailings, help update EAC’s community resource and referral information, or other tasks.

OTHER WAYS TO SERVE

Coordinate a food or clothing drive at your school, church, neighborhood, or place of business; separate large bags of rice, beans, dry milk, detergent into smaller bags; mend donated clothing for the clothing center; wash aprons for the food pantry.