How you can help the Food Bank
The High Plains Food Bank also processes product recovery and salvage for our distribution to 28 counties in the Texas Panhandle. This is a VERY important process to the Food Bank.
Perhaps you believe that volunteers must have special skills or talent to make a difference. In reality, all that is needed is the willingness to give of yourself. Due to the incoming recovery of food items on daily basis, volunteers are needed to help sort and repackage incoming food items. Food that is donated to the High Plains Food Bank locally comes through our Product Recovery and Salvage Room. Here it is inspected, sorted, cleaned and repackaged. After this process, the food is then placed on the Food Bank's shelves for distribution.
When an individual or organization donates food, we receive that product through our Receiving room. However, until volunteers have gone through this food to inspect, sort and repackage the food, the Food Bank does not have access to this food. Not one donated food item can be placed on our shelves until it has been cleaned, inspected and repackaged by our volunteers. This is why we depend on volunteers to help sort through donated food.
Since we depend heavily on volunteer support, this food would not be able to be sent if it was not for the help of people just like you. The faster we can repackage the incoming food, the faster we can distribute it to those in need in the Panhandle!
Volunteers are needed daily to help in our Product Recovery and Salvage area. You can make a difference by becoming a volunteer. Whether it is on-going or for a one-time event, your generosity will improve the quality of life in the Texas Panhandle. Ideally, the High Plains Food Bank needs volunteers who would be willing to make volunteering a weekly or monthly activity. Twenty people can sort through 10,000 pounds worth of food in 2 hours! This is how quickly donated food and product can be sorted and placed back on our shelves! You will be amazed at the amount of food that comes through and goes out of the Food Bank on a monthly basis! The Food Bank will also keep track of the amount of food that you sorted. We will recognize the groups that help us the most throughout the year! We are looking for volunteers to help us for the times below. Please note: the High Plains Food Bank will no longer take court-ordered community service for those under the age of 18. Also, individuals younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult or in a group with a supervising adult.
Weekdays - we need volunteers during the weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to help sort and repackage food. Although no appointment is needed to volunteer for this time frame, you will need to call to tell us of your arrival (this allows us to better prepare for the number of volunteers that will be working). We are looking for volunteers to help work between the times of 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. You may work any time during these shifts. Please note: If you are a community service volunteer, please call for details on items or information that you may have to bring before volunteering (18 and older only).
*Weekday evenings (6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.) - we know most people work during the weekdays but would still like to come out and volunteer. We have opportunities for you! Weekday nights are perfect for groups, organizations or individuals to help out! These shifts are by appointment so you will need to call and setup a day and time to volunteer (We follow this procedure so we will know how many volunteers to prepare for at the Food Bank). We ask that you wear close-toed shoes when you volunteer at the Food Bank. Please note: If you are a community service volunteer, please call for details on items or information that you may have to bring before volunteering (18 and older only).
*Please contact us to see what weekday nights are available for volunteering in our Salvage Room.
Saturday mornings (9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.) - a perfect weekend opportunity to volunteer at the High Plains Food Bank! This shift is by appointment so you will need to call and setup a time when you would like to volunteer. We follow this procedure so we will know how many volunteers to prepare for at the Food Bank (Note: we will not open our Salvage Room on Saturday mornings unless we have groups that are scheduled to volunteer). We ask that you wear close-toed shoes when you volunteer at the Food Bank. Please note: If you are a community service volunteer, please call for details on items or information that you may have to bring before volunteering (18 and older only).
To setup a time for you or your group to volunteer at the High Plains Food Bank, please contact Kusay Ismael at (806) 374-8562.
Directions to our Product Recovery & Salvage Room: The High Plains Food Bank is located at 815 Ross Street in Amarillo. The Food Bank is exactly a half-mile north of Interstate 40 on Ross Street (exit 71 from I-40). Turn east onto 9th Avenue off of Ross Street and drive to the end of the warehouse. You will see a handicap ramp at the end with a white door at the top of the ramp. Enter through this door to our Salvage Room and ask for Kusay.
Food Bank Community Garden
The High Plains Food Bank needs volunteers for its community garden. We are looking for volunteers that would be interested in volunteering on a regular basis (as the garden will be a year-round project). We need volunteers to help us on a weekly and/or monthly basis. Volunteers are also needed Monday through Friday. We are confident that once you see our community garden, you will want to come back!
Volunteer Schedule: We need volunteers Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m; Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. If you sign up for a volunteer shift, we ask that each volunteer work the entire shift (this will accomplish tasks that will make the garden more beneficial - remember our garden takes up the width of an entire city block!).
Volunteer Procedure: If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Morgan Dezendorf, the Food Bank's Garden Volunteer Coordinator, at morgan@hpfb.org. The Food Bank asks that you contact Morgan at least 24-48 hours before the day of the requested volunteer shift. In addition, we ask that you e-mail Morgan to confirm (after the volunteer shift has been setup) that you will be coming out for your scheduled shift (this helps our garden staff properly prepare for your arrival). Volunteer limit per shift: 30 persons.
Attention Businesses and Organizations!: This is an excellent opportunity for your company or organization to come out and help. We will specifically set a Saturday morning aside for your business or organization to volunteer in our community garden. Please contact Morgan for more details: morgan@hpfb.org.
For Email Marketing you can trustA very big thank you to our on-going volunteer groups:
Amarillo High School-Key Club
American Quarter Horse Association Foundation
Arbor Christian Academy
Amarillo Community Federal Credit Union
Caprock High School-National Honor Society
Central Church of Christ
Church of Jesus Christ-Latter Day Saints
Enterprise Rent-a-Car
First Baptist Church of Amarillo
4-H Club
Golden Plains Church of Christ
High Plains Food Bank staff & Board of Directors
Junior League of Amarillo
Mission in Amarillo
Polk Street United Methodist Church
Randall High School-Key Club
Rotary Club of Amarillo South
Rotary Club of Amarillo West
Texas Tech School of Pharmacy
Trinity Lutheran Church
Troop 80
Valero
Xcel Energy
If you would like to be added to the Food Bank mailing list, please contact us with your mailing information
