Kitchen Orientation

Food Safety & Handling

Storage
- Refrigerate below 40°F
- Freeze at 0°F
- Use First In First Out (FIFO) rotation.
Expiration Checks
- Inspect "best by" dates
- Discard food past "use by" dates
Spoilage Signs
- Watch for mold, odd smells, or texture changes

Hygiene & Cleaning
- Wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds.
- Wear and replace gloves when handling ready-to-eat foods.
- Avoid Cross-Contamination: Separate raw meats and use different tools.
- Regularly sanitize surfaces and equipment after raw food contact.

Procedures
- Keep workspaces clear, stick to assigned roles, and communicate well.
- Work quickly, courteously, and keep pickup areas clean and organized.
- Serve in order, explain meal options clearly, and follow portion control for fairness.
- Follow portion guidelines, pack meals securely

Dietary Needs
- Label and separate meals properly for dietary needs (gluten-free, halal, vegan, etc.).
- Use clean tools, gloves, and prep areas for special meals.
- Inform clients of available options and distribute meals accurately.
Allergic Reactions & Food
Safety Concerns
- If a client reports an allergy, do not assume food is safe for them—consult ingredient lists or inform a supervisor.
- In the event of an allergic reaction (hives, swelling, difficulty breathing), call 911 immediately and inform a supervisor.

We rely heavily on our wonderful volunteers, which means we have high expectations for our volunteers to ensure we are able

to provide consistent high quality service to our clients.

For this reason we ask for your commitment to our standards!

Please arrive to your scheduled shift 15 minutes early, this will give our staff a chance to confirm volunteer numbers and organize the volunteers to best fit the needs for that shift.
We ask that you provide a 24 hour notice if you will need to miss a scheduled shift. Repeated no-call no-shows may result in a removal from future volunteer opportunities.
Please be prepared to stay for the entire length of your scheduled shift
If you will arrive late, or need to leave early please let our staff know ASAP so that they can plan accordingly

Closed-toe and closed-heel shoes are required.
Clothing should not be excessively baggy or revealing
Clothing should not have offensive, political, or inappropriate language or graphics.
Volunteers who come inappropriately dressed will be asked to change before beginning their volunteer assignment.

Many of our volunteer events involve repetitive movements and heavy lifting.
Please take breaks as needed while you are volunteering to prevent injury.
You can find refreshments that are available for volunteers in our designated volunteer spaces.

We value your feedback, your perspective is important and might be the only avenue to positive changes in the volunteer experience. We will be sending out a form to request your feedback anytime you sign up for a volunteer shift!
If at any point in your volunteer experience you have a grievance that you need to report to us please email volunteer@hotfood.org so that we can review your grievance and handle it appropriately!