Volunteer

We work hard to involve people from all walks of life in our day-to-day services. The St. Leo Food Connection staff is here to help you find out how you can help us fight hunger in Pierce County.

Everyone Has Something to Share

We are particularly proud of our cooperative ventures working with Centerforce, Vadis, L'Arche Tahoma Hope, and Metro Parks' Community Access Program. We've found that we are able to provide meaningful ways for developmentally disabled folks to make valuable contributions that increase their self-esteem. We also work hard to facilitate volunteer opportunities for people with severe psychological/psychiatric disorders.

We are also proud of our ongoing relationships with schools such as Annie Wright, St. Patrick's, Bellarmine, Tacoma School of the Arts, St. Francis Cabrini, and Charles Wright. These students are able to learn at a young age the value of giving back to their community.

COLLECT / PROCESS / DISTRIBUTE FOOD (St. Leo Food Bank/Springbrook Mobile Food Bank)
We need volunteers Monday – Saturday to help collect, process, and distribute food to our clients. Our hours are 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (M/W/F), 9:00 am – 6:00 pm (T/Th) and 9:00 am– 2:00 pm (Sat). We can accommodate individuals and groups as large as 10-15 people. Contact Cari Tillery.

FOOD COLLECTIONS
We need volunteers to drive our vans and/or small trucks to make food pick-ups from local stores and community partners. You can volunteer once, regularly or sporadically! Contact Dawn Whitman.

ORGANIZE A FOOD DRIVE
We have seen a marked increase in the number of people coming to both the St. Leo Food Bank and the Springbrook Mobile Food Bank. More clients means we need more food. Holding a food drive at is a great way to support our efforts to fight hunger. We can help you set-up a successful event! Contact Dawn Whitman.

COOKING SAMPLE MEALS
We need volunteers to prepare dishes using foods available on our food line so that we can provide samples to our clients to help them make the best use of the food we are able to provide. Contact Dawn Whitman.

BACKPACK PROJECT
We provide backpacks filled with two days worth of kid-friendly food to 430 students at 14 Tacoma Schools every Friday throughout the school year. Volunteers are needed to organize dedicated food drives, process and bag the food for this program, and to deliver backpacks to schools. Contact James Harper.

SUMMER MEALS
During the summer months we operate several Summer Meals sites, serving lunch and a snack to children 18 and younger. We need program staff and volunteers to prepare and serve meals, and to coordinate recreational/educational programs. Contact James Harper.

PIERCE COUNTY GLEANING PROJECT
We help staff the PCGP, which collects surplus fruits and vegetables from local farmers, wholesalers and homeowners. Volunteers are needed to help recruit local homeowners to donate surplus produce from their gardens/trees and to help harvest fruits/vegetables and then distribute them to local food banks and hot meal sites. Contact Kevin Glackin-Coley.

HUNGER ADVOCACY
Join the Food Connection Advocacy Network and learn about hunger and poverty issues and legislation. Our occasional e-mail alerts will help you contact your elected officials and ask them to support legislation that supports low-income individuals and families. Contact Kevin Glackin-Coley.

Unable to give time? See our Donations page.