Volunteer

How You Can Help

All volunteers and rescuers help us transport food from our food donor partners to local homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and other human service agencies in our communities. Each food rescue event typically takes less than an hour. Food rescues may be completed by public transport, by personal vehicle, on foot and even by bicycle. (Suggested transportation often varies by Branch). With just an hour of your time, you can help reduce food waste and provide meals to those who need it most all around the country!

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I started volunteering with RLC over 3 years ago. To say I love this organization is an understatement. Their volunteer model is perfect for people with busy schedules... for those who feel like they want to help their community but don't have time. Carving out just 30 minutes to an hour out of your week to rescue food that would be thrown away helps reduce waste, feed the hungry, and save lives. It's that simple. And it's fun!"

Lauren Lead Rescuer

Crew Volunteers* are encouraged to volunteer with RLC without any sort of time or frequency commitment. You’ll be helping the event’s Lead Rescuer transport food donations from the food donor to the human service agency and you may be joined by other Crew Volunteers.
*This role is available in Columbus, Dallas, New Jersey, New Orleans and New York City

Get started today!

  1. Create an account using the form
  2. View all available volunteer opportunities (food rescue events) on our Calendar
  3. Sign up to attend food rescue events on the Calendar that match your availability and you’ll receive full details via email

Lead Rescuers* are responsible for completing all steps necessary for a food rescue event. All Lead Rescuers go through a brief training process specific to their branch and can then sign up to lead events on the schedule of their choice. Lead Rescuers may attend events solo or manage one or more Crew Volunteers. They can either lead events as a volunteer or, in some branches, as an independent contractor and earn a fee per pickup.
*The Volunteer Lead Rescuer role is available in all our branches
*The Paid Lead Rescuer role (independent contractor) is currently only available in Massachusetts and New York City

Get started today!

  1. Create an account using the form
  2. Complete the brief training process (all training steps and necessary resources will be available to you on your dashboard)
  3. View all available volunteer opportunities (food rescue events) on our Calendar
  4. Sign up to attend food rescue events on the Calendar that match your availability and you’ll receive full details via email

Driver Rescuers* Although most of our NYC rescues are done on foot, due to the volume of donations or distance needing to be travelled, we started the Driver Rescuer role! Driver Rescuers go through the same training process as Lead Rescuers, have access to all food rescues, and are eligible for the $15 per rescue compensation for vehicle-required rescues. These rescues are designated with a vehicle symbol in the food rescue event title.
*This role is only available in New York City

For non-vehicle required rescues, Driver Rescuers can either volunteer or earn the standard Paid Lead Rescue rate of $10 per pickup led.

  1. Create an account using the form
  2. Log in to your account, click Update Profile, and select your vehicle type (you will only be able to see vehicle-required events after you do this!)
  3. Complete the brief training process (all training steps and necessary resources will be available to you on your dashboard)
  4. View all available volunteer opportunities (food rescue events) on our Calendar
  5. Sign up to attend food rescue events on the Calendar that match your availability and you’ll receive full details via email

I've had a really awesome experience with RLC. I've had some amazing volunteers and I've created a lot of meaningful relationships with the folks living at the human service agencies I'd bring food to...Can't thank you all enough!"

Eva former Core Rescuer