Q. What do volunteers do at The Food Bank?

* Most volunteers work in our warehouse, inspecting, sorting, and repacking donated food and grocery products.

* You will be familiarized with Three Square, given information about what we do and who we serve, and trained to inspect food at the beginning of your first shift. You will then work together as a team on an assembly line, possibly alongside other groups.

* Some volunteers load, some inspect or sort products, and others check and label boxes. While a few of these tasks require the ability to lift a 30-pound box, most tasks require only that a volunteer stand and inspect products for a few hours.

* Administrative support— For projects that arise in every department, volunteers can help with data entry, mailings, filing, and telephone follow-ups. A minimum commitment of two hours per visit is required.

Special events — Three Square hosts or participates in a number of fundraisers throughout the year including DISH and RestaurantWeek events. Volunteers are often needed to sell raffle tickets, collect monetary or food donations, or greet attendees as representatives of Three Square.

Q. What are your weekday volunteer hours?
A. The Three Square warehouse is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon. There is a second shift Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. These are just our warehouse hours, you do not have to volunteer for the full four hour shift. Note: Our warehouse team breaks for lunch from 12 – 1 p.m. During that time you may bring your own sack lunch or grab a bite at a nearby restaurant.

Q. What are your weekend volunteer hours?
A. We offer volunteer opportunities ever third Saturday of the month.  To schedule a Saturday volunteer opportunity, please contact Patti Johnson, Volunteer Coordinator,  at (702)644-3663 ext. 355. 

Q. Can I come as an individual?
A. Absolutely! We are more than happy to have individuals come in during our regular shifts to volunteer with us. All volunteers must complete an application and a brief orientation. We also request that you contact Patti Johnson, Volunteer Coordinator, at pjohnson@threesquare.org before you attend to make sure we are open on the day in question.

Q. What is the minimum and maximum group size?
A. We can take individuals and groups of up to 40 people. Any group of five or more people must be scheduled ahead of time. Groups of four or less are treated as individual volunteers.

Q. Do I need to sign up ahead of time?
A. Yes, both individuals and groups are asked to make reservations to volunteer during the week or on weekends. To schedule a time to volunteer, please contact Patti Johnson, Volunteer Coordinator, at (702)644-3663 ext. 355.

Q. How early do I need to book my group?
A. For the majority of the year we ask for two to three weeks’ notice, in the holiday season we are often completely booked months in advance. We can book up to a year in advance—so feel free to call us early! 702-644-FOOD(3663) ext 355.

Q. Can I do my community service at Three Square?
A. Yes, we accept both court ordered and school required community service volunteers, however individual approval is required. Call 702-644-FOOD(3663) ext. 355 for details.

Q. What should I wear to volunteer?
A. All volunteers MUST wear closed-toed shoes in order to volunteer. You should wear comfortable clothes that can get dirty, as our product can be dusty at times. The warehouse tends to be chilly in the winter and hot in the summer, so layered clothing is suggested. Also, please do not wear any dangling jewelry.

Q. Is there an age restriction?
A. All volunteers must be 10 years of age or older and any volunteer under 18 requires an adult chaperone and a signed Parent/Guardian Permission Slip.

Q. Can Three Square accommodate volunteers with special needs?
A. Due to safety regulations we have to evaluate all situations individually, but we are happy to try to accommodate special needs. To discuss your needs, please contact Patti Johnson at pjohnson@threesquare.org or 702-644-FOOD(3663) ext.355.

Q. Is there a minimum time requirement to volunteer?
A. Individuals and groups, due to the training, must commit to at least a two-hour block of time. There is no long-term commitment needed.

Q. Can I come in on a regular basis?
A. Individuals and Groups are welcome to come in on a regular basis—however this would need to be scheduled with the Volunteer Department in advance.

Q. Does Three Square have a parking lot?
A. Yes, we do have a small parking lot for visitors and volunteers in the front of our building.

Q. How do I become a Three Square volunteer?
A. For details on how to become a volunteer click here. Or call Patti Johnson, Volunteer Coordinator, at 702 644-FOOD (3663) ext. 355 for more information.

Q. What is a food bank or food-rescue organization?
A. A food bank operates as a distribution center with capabilities for warehousing prepared and perishable, dry, refrigerated, and frozen products that one might find in a grocery store. These products are then distributed to charitable human service agencies or non-profit organizations that serve hungry individuals and families through a variety of member emergency food assistance agencies such as soup kitchens, youth or senior centers, shelters and pantries.

A food-rescue organization describes the manner in which products are retrieved and distributed. Food-rescue organizations typically pick up product immediately and deliver it to one or more of their charitable member agencies.

Both entities collectively funnel food and grocery products to charitable agencies and faith-based organizations, feeding those in need.

Q. Why donate to the Three Square Food Bank?
A. Donating your excess, distressed, or unsaleable products to the Three Square Food Bank makes good business sense. Regular donations reduce the costs associated with warehouse, storage, and disposal fees. Your company may receive substantial tax benefits from donating. Additionally, supporting the Three Square Food Bank generates goodwill by demonstrating your company’s concern for local needs in communities that support your operations as well as concern for a national problem.

Q. What can I donate?
A. See below

* Close-to-code
* Prepared and perishable goods
* Out-of-code with extended use by dates
* Discontinued products
* Household cleaning items [with] shelf-life recommendations
* Salvage
* Reformulations
* Mislabeled
* Customer returns and refusals
* Private-Label
* Off-spec items
* Produce
* Production overruns
* Bulk
* Over-the-counter items
* Ingredients and raw materials
* Test product inventory
* Foodservice-sized items
* Paper products
* Seasonal items
* Health and beauty aids
* Boxes, bags, totes, pallets
* Promotional items
* Frozen and refrigerated goods
* Equipment

Q. How is product integrity assured?
A. Brand integrity is protected through strict standards of food safety, product handling, and inventory control through annual monitoring and inspection of the Three Square Food Bank. The Three Square Food Bank distributes donated products to registered and inspected 501(c)3 charitable agencies or faith-based organizations. A computerized distribution system enables the tracking of all product movement and provides recall capabilities to ensure product integrity.

Q. Is my company liable for the product once it has been donated?
A. The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act was designed to encourage the donation of food and grocery products to non-profit organizations. Under this act, as long as the donor has not acted with negligence or intentional misconduct, the donor is not liable for damage incurred as the result of illness or disease contracted by the ultimate recipients of the food due to nature, age, packaging, or condition of the product.

Q. Is my donation tax deductible?
A. Three Square is a recognized 501(c)3 public charity and our tax ID is 30-0396918, any In-Kind and/or Monetary Donations made to Three Square are tax deductible.