Join the Washington University Network of Kansas City and the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement for an afternoon at Harvesters' Volunteer Outreach Center where your sorting and boxing efforts will contribute to the distribution of more than three million pounds of donated food and household supplies each month. Together you will help hungry children, seniors and families in your community.
WashU Engage is an initiative co-led by the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement and the Washington University Alumni Association which aligns with the university’s commitment to supporting habits of lifelong learning and leadership for alumni, and advances the Gephardt Institute’s mission of cultivating informed and actively engaged citizens.
Volunteers will be sorting and repackaging donated product in the Volunteer Engagement Center (VEC). Must be eight years or older to participate; students 15 years old and younger need to be accompanied by an adult. Families are welcome but please remember to register each member who will be volunteering!
The following are important things you need to know about volunteering in the warehouse:
- Children under the age of 8 are not permitted in the warehouse for safety reasons.
- Closed toed shoes are required.
- Dress casually (jeans and t-shirts, and sweatshirts to layer in the winter)
- Please leave all valuable jewelry at home. This includes rings which may come off in the packing process.
- No food, gum, or drinks are permitted in the warehouse.
- Cell phone usage is not permitted in the warehouse.
- All volunteers must be free of contagious illness (runny nose, colds, the flu, strep throat, etc)
Parking is limited so please carpool. Visitor parking is available in front of the building and in an overflow lot across the street. If spots fill, please limit street parking to the east side (closest to the building) so semi-trucks can safely access our facility. Please enter through the Volunteer Entrance (under the red awning).
Please consider bringing donations with you when you volunteer. Harvesters most needed items include:
Canned vegetables (low sodium)
Canned fruits in 100% juice
Dried fruit (no added sugar preferred)
Canned chicken, tuna, salmon (packed in water)
Brown rice
Whole grain pasta
Dried beans or canned low sodium beans
Peanut, almond, or sun butter
Canned soup (chicken, tomato or vegetable)
Cereal – hot and cold (whole grain, low sugar preferred)
Soap
Deodorant
Shampoo
Toilet Paper