So What Else Food Pantry, Food Distribution Routing & Donation Center

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SWE welcomes volunteers of all backgrounds, experiences and capabilities. We need volunteers for: Gaithersburg Food Pantry workers, Baltimore Bulk Food Recovery & Distribution Warehouse workers, Delivery & Distribution drivers MD, Baltimore, DC & for Youth Education programming - Teacher's Aides / Classroom Assistants. Talk to us about your ideas for bringing innovative learning to life with our learning community!

Please contact swevolunteer@gmail.com to share your area of interest and learn more about volunteering with SWE. Visit sowhatelse.org to learn more about our programs and impact! Thanks!

Food Pantry Team

The SWE Food Pantry is located in the Lakeforest Mall (701 Russell Ave., Gaithersburg) parking lot adjacent to the Ruby Tuesday restaurant entrance (you'll see a large shipping container, that's us!).

This is a person-to-person high-contact volunteer opportunity. Please do not sign up if you are immunocompromised. Volunteers must be ages 14 and older; if younger they must be accompanied by a parent / adult guardian.

Regular Opening Hours:
The Food Pantry is open to walk up clients from 10AM to 1PM Tuesday to Friday.

Volunteers are welcome from 8AM to 2PM Monday to Friday.

On Mondays volunteers are primarily involved with deliveries (unloading; stacking in storage or designated area) or pickups (collecting food donations from retailers, farms, warehouses, etc.); not staffing the walk-up pantry. Only 8AM to 11AM shift is available.

We have a keen & pressing need for Delivery Drivers! Please consider helping out with Deliveries in lieu of your service at the Sunday Food Pantry!

On Sundays we need volunteers from 9AM to 1PM. Note: foot traffic tends to be less on Sundays so it is possible that volunteers will be asked to work on preparation, pre-staging and or donation center projects.

Food Pantry Volunteers assist with site set up and breakdown, loading / unloading pallets of food; breaking down large pallets of produce into parcels ready for pick up by clients in person or for delivery to distribution sites / homebound clients. Volunteers work with SWE staff on designated tasks and everyone is responsible for keeping all work and service areas safe and free of debris.

We are located outside so appropriate clothing is important! No open toe shoes; dangling adornments should be secured to prevent snagging; comfortable work clothes you expect to get dirty. Except in the case of extreme weather we will operate the pantry as scheduled. Text 240 705 4345 to confirm if we are operating during an extraordinary weather event. Please report to Isabella, Mely, Haley or Megan upon arrival at the service site.

Shifts are usually 3 hours but we are flexible! And we want you to be flexible too! Please take a few moments to stretch out and limber up before your shift starts!

Delivery Drivers

So What Else is in urgent need of volunteer drivers to deliver food parcels to distribution points and client homes in the DC Metro Area. This is a low contact volunteer service opportunity.

Service scope: Prepared food parcels are picked up from So What Else located at Lakeforest Mall, 701 Russell Ave., Gaithersburg, MD between 9:30am-3:30pm* Monday- Sunday. Routes take 1-2 hours depending upon location and number of clients.

* We'll try to accommodate your schedule; alternative times may be arranged with our Delivery Manager if possible. Delivery demand has exploded with omicron. The week of 1/17 - 1/23 SWE delivered food to over 620 families. We need help meeting this demand! If you meet the criteria & have the capability, capacity and intention to serve, we would LOVE to HEAR from YOU!!

Drivers must use their own vehicle, be at least 18, have a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance.

Drivers will receive on-the-spot orientation from our Delivery Manager.

Please respond to this opportunity with the days and times of your availability. For more information, email swevolunteer@gmail.com

To begin serving right away please text/call 301 832 6272 to connect with Will Harmon, Delivery Manager.

Donations

Items our communities need: household necessities, including cleaning supplies, infant / toddler and young persons’ clothes, gently worn clothing, shoes; games, exercise equipment, bikes, art supplies, paper plates, plastic cutlery, sandwich bags, etc. etc.

Donations may be dropped off at our Collection Center: Lakeforest Mall (701 Russell Ave., Gaithersburg), green entrance (next to the Ruby Tuesday restaurant) in the old 777 Spa location. Donations accepted M-Th 10AM to 4PM. Please note, SWE does not provide donation pick up service. We use our transportation resources primarily to collect and distribute food. Exceptions might be made but would require the donor help defray the incurred cost.

To arrange for special donations / alternate times, please email swevolunteer@gmail.com with your requirements.

Thank You!

For helping us in our efforts to ensure that vulnerable families continue to have access to good food & young learners have safe spaces to form inquiries, discover solutions & express themselves positively & peacefully!

Thank you for your volunteer heart! Warm tips for an enjoyable service experience:

• Be kind & courteous; friendly & engaging; helpful & respectful. We strive for superior customer service and positive customer experiences!
• Work in concert but take initiative - there is always something to do :-) or someone to ask :-)
• Be prepared to sort through produce & remove inedible items / clean up damaged but good food
• Be prepared to lift 30 pounds regularly, 50 pounds occasionally
• Please text 240 421 9271 if you are running late or if you can’t attend as scheduled
• If you are sick, do not come in. Please advise us accordingly