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Warehouse Orientation

Food Safety & Handling

  • Storage

    • Refrigerate below 40°F

    • Freeze at 0°F 

    • Use First In First Out (FIFO) rotation.

    • Place raw meats on the bottom shelf

  • Cleaning​

    • Surfaces should be wiped down regularly to maintain a clean work environment

  • ​​Hygiene

    • Wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds.​

    • Wear and replace gloves when handling any food

  • Spoiled Food

    • Watch for mold, odd smells, or texture changes

    • Do not distribute food that is bulging, leaking, moldy, smells bad, or has pests

  • Food Allergy Awareness

    • Many donated food items may contain common allergens such as nuts, dairy, gluten, or soy.

    • Always handle food with care to prevent cross-contamination, especially when sorting, packaging, or preparing meals. If you are unsure about an item, ask a supervisor before proceeding.

Safety Guidelines

  • General Safety

    • Be Aware of Your Surroundings: Stay alert for moving carts, forklifts, or other volunteers to avoid accidents.​

    • Keep Walkways Clear: Store boxes and supplies in designated areas to prevent tripping hazards.

    • Report Issues Immediately – Inform staff of spills, damaged goods, or unsafe conditions right away.

    • Follow Emergency Procedures – In case of fire, injury, or other emergencies, follow staff instructions and evacuation routes

  • First Aid & Injury

    • Always lift with your legs, not your back, and ask for help when handling heavy items to avoid injury.

    • First aid kits are available at designated locations in the facility. If you or another volunteer experience an injury, no matter how minor, immediately report it to a supervisor. In case of an emergency, follow staff instructions and use posted emergency contact numbers.

  • Tools & Machinery

    • Only use pallet jacks, food scales, or other equipment if trained and authorized by staff; always follow safety procedures.

    • Handle box cutters, hand trucks, and other tools with care, using them only as instructed to prevent injury or damage

    • If unsure how to use a tool or machine, ask a staff member for guidance before operating it.

    • Return all tools and equipment to their designated areas after use and report any malfunctions or damage to staff immediately.

  • Restricted Areas

    • For safety reasons, volunteers must remain in designated workspaces and avoid entering staff-only areas, storage rooms, or equipment zones unless authorized. If you need access to a restricted area, check with a supervisor first to ensure safety and proper handling of food or materials.

    • Respect designated off-limits areas, such as staff-only storage rooms, refrigeration units, or machinery zones, to ensure safety and efficiency in operations. Always ask a supervisor before entering restricted spaces.

Your Commitment

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!

Attendance

  • 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

Dress Code

  • 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. â€‹

  • Volunteers who come inappropriately dressed will be asked to change before beginning their volunteer assignment.

Breaks & Refreshments

  • 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. 

Reporting & Feedback

  • 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!

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