Frequently Asked Questions
I want to volunteer! How do I sign up for that?
Great! The first step in volunteering is to register for an account. Registering as a volunteer is crucial to our ability to plan for your workday and keep you safe in our buildings. Once registered, you can then sign up online for our volunteer opportunities. Here is the registration link: New Volunteer Sign Up
Step by Step:
1. Click on the Volunteer Opportunity you are interested in
2. Click on Sign Up
3. Fill in the blanks and create your account
4. Fill your Qualifications: Click on Liability Waiver and initial and then agree to a Background Check
5. Click Continue to sign up
6. If you aren’t directed to what you wanted to sign up for, please click on Opportunities on the left and you will see more options.
7. Click on View Details to read more information
8. Click on Sign Up
9. Check your shifts and SUBMIT OPPORTUNITY RESPONSE
I want to volunteer with family, friends, coworkers, or my church. How do I get us all signed up together?
Great! We love having volunteer groups – large and small. We do ask if you are bringing more than 30 people to call us at (830) 755-5200 to coordinate.
If you would like to bring a group, just click on the “RESPOND AS TEAM” button on the opportunity page and register as a team. You can reserve slots on a shift for your team members, even if they don’t have their own email addresses or you don’t know who they are yet.
It is important to know how many people we can expect each day so we can plan appropriate projects and have accurate numbers for safety. If you are coming with a friend or bringing a child, please each create an account and sign up for a slot. You can create a made-up email for your child (name@example.com) when you create their account. We also require every volunteer to have a waiver signed so each person must create their own account.
Can I just show up? Why not?
In order to create a safe and productive environment for our volunteers we need to have an accurate idea of how many volunteers will be here each day. We prefer to have 24 hours advance notice of individuals coming in so we can be prepared with age and ability appropriate tasks. We also ask that you call ahead or cancel via your account at least 24 hours in advance so it does not negatively impact our work plan for the day. Our partners, clients, and others depend on our volunteers to fulfill our mission.
How old do I have to be to volunteer?
Our warehouse welcomes volunteers ages four and up. Teens ages 13 and up can volunteer without an adult. If you are bringing a group of youth, we ask that you have chaperones.
What kind of work will I be doing?
Tasks vary depending on the needs to be accomplished that week. Work may include sorting donated perishable or non-perishable food, packing food into carts or boxes for distribution. We also need help organizing and sorting donated clothing for our clothing ministry. We may have you doing landscaping but will always let you know in advance if that is the case.
I need court-appointed community service hours. Can I volunteer?
Yes! We welcome community service volunteers. Please bring your paperwork with you when you are scheduled. You MUST sign in and out on our hour sheets when volunteering so we can have an accurate account of your hours. A HCDBM employee must sign your official paper.
I need community service hours for a school organization. Can I volunteer?
Yes! We welcome volunteers needing community service hours for a club. Please bring your paperwork with you when you are scheduled. You MUST sign in and out on our hour sheets when volunteering so we can have an accurate account of your hours. You can choose to have your paper signed whenever you are here so we can keep track of your hours and can print them when needed.
What should I wear?
Please wear closed-toe shoes. We recommend weather appropriate clothing as our warehouse is not temperature controlled meaning when it’s hot outside, it’s hot inside and when it’s cold then our warehouse is cold. We recommend a hat and sunscreen if you know that your group is working outside or landscaping.
I have a food allergy. Can I still volunteer?
HCDBM asks volunteers to use their best judgement when volunteering with us. We cannot guarantee an allergy free environment as we work with donated food and clothing. We do ask volunteers with severe or life-threatening allergies to avoid working with food in our warehouse. If you would like to volunteer in a non-food capacity, please reach out to 830-755-5200 and we can find a spot for you.
I would like a tour before I volunteer. How do I sign up?
Wonderful! We would love to introduce you to our ministry. Please follow this link to create an account and you can sign up to receive a tour: Meet the Ministry
I need to keep track of my hours. How does that work?
If you are keeping track of hours, then we recommend you do two things. First, you must sign in on our sign-in sheets while here. We use those to keep track of your hours. Secondly, you can bring your paper with you and we can sign it each time you are here. If you are completing court appointed service hours then a HCDBM employee must sign off. If you are completing hours for a club or organization, then a volunteer can sign for you.
Do you accept matching grants from my company for volunteer work?
Yes! Please speak with us when you volunteer about matching grants or you can call Kerry at 830-755-5200
