utah food bank: food box volunteer handbook
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Food Box Volunteer Handbook
3150 South 900 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84119
801-978-2452
www.UtahFoodBank.org
Fighting Hunger Statewide
Utah Food Bank was founded in 1904 as the Salt Lake Charity Association, whose objectives
were, in part, “to discourage the growth of pauperism” and “to promote the general welfare
of the needy.” Over 110 years of operation under various names and in various forms, Utah
Food Bank has remained committed to providing assistance to Utah's most vulnerable
people. To accomplish the tremendous challenge of ensuring that every Utahn facing the
pain and anxiety of hunger has somewhere to turn, we depend heavily on the engagement
and generosity of thousands of dedicated people in communities throughout Utah.
On behalf of Utah Food Bank, and those facing hunger we serve, thank you for
your dedication to helping us Fight Hunger Statewide!
Did You Know?
1 in 6 Utahns risk missing a meal today. 472,000 people are food insecure —
17% of Utah’s population.
Who Are You Helping?
1 in 6 seniors in Utah faces hunger. Utah seniors receiving food boxes have an average monthly income of
about $800. Because of rising costs of fuel, prescription medicine, and healthcare, more and more
low-income seniors are forced to choose between food and other basic needs. Having access to enough
food plays a powerful role in one’s ability to remain independent and engaged. Adequate nutrition helps
seniors maintain healthy physical activity, improves memory, and reduces the number of trips to the
doctor. In delivering a food box, you are contributing to a senior’s quality of life in a second important way:
recent research shows that isolation and loneliness powerfully impact health and life expectancy.
Your caring visit is truly making a difference in the lives of our clients!
Utah Food Bank’s Food Box Program
Last year, Utah Food Bank distributed 41,195 food boxes to homebound seniors and people with disabilities through our two food
box programs:
Utah Food Bank Food Box (UFB Box)
Utah Food Bank provides free, monthly food assistance to low-income, homebound seniors
and people with disabilities. Each box contains approximately one week’s worth of
non-perishable food as well as bread and fresh produce when available. We make every
effort to include low-sodium and low-sugar items as often as possible. Utah Food Bank is
often the recipient of additional “luxury” items such as pet food and flowers that when
delivered, make life just a little nicer for those facing hunger. For many recipients, this regular
visit by a caring volunteer often is one of the few visitors they receive, offering a bright spot in
their difficult lives. Eligibility is based on age, income, and Salt Lake County residency. Last
year, Utah Food Bank delivered 12,363 UFB boxes to clients throughout Salt Lake County.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP Box)
This federally-funded program works to improve the health of low-income seniors at least 60
years of age. The USDA provides nutritious supplemental food such as canned fruits,
vegetables, cereal, and cheese which is shipped directly to Utah Food Bank for distribution to
qualifying seniors. Eligibility for the CSFP box is based on age, income, and state residency.
Last year, Utah Food Bank volunteers and staff hand-delivered 28,832 CSFP boxes to
individual residents and senior housing sites.
Confidentiality & Civil Rights
Utah Food Bank’s professional ethics require that we, along with each volunteer, maintain
the highest degree of confidentiality when handling client matters. To maintain this
professional confidence, no volunteer shall disclose client information to anyone other than
Utah Food Bank’s Food Box Coordinator, including other clients, third parties, or members of
one’s own family. If you have any questions concerning client confidentiality, please contact
Utah Food Bank’s Food Box Coordinator at 801-887-1271.
Civil Rights Training
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) requires civil rights training for people involved in all
levels of the administration of programs that receive Federal financial assistance, including
CSFP boxes. Civil rights training requirements for volunteers should be approached in the
following manner:
Frontline volunteers, such as individuals who regularly interact with program applicants
and participants or who determine eligibility, must receive full civil rights training on an
annual basis. Any volunteer who handles personal information must receive this training
as well. Training occurs during each individual's orientation to the program.
Volunteers who do not handle personal information and who may infrequently interact
with program applicants, participants, or frontline staff must receive, at a minimum,
limited civil rights training which covers customer service and any other subject matter
applicable to each volunteer's role and responsibilities. This training may be less intensive
than the full training provided to frontline volunteers. Consistent with above, it must first
occur during volunteers' orientation to the program and through annual training.
Volunteers who do not interact in any way with program applicants and participants, and
who do not handle personal information, do not need civil rights training. If there is a
concern that any particular volunteer cannot understand and/or abide by training and
civil rights requirements, then that individual should not interact in any way with program
applicants and participants or handle personal information.
We will hold a civil rights training at orientation. Following this, volunteers are asked to
complete a short checklist that will certify them for one year. Each year, volunteers are
required to recertify to remain in compliance with Federal regulations.
Volunteer Requirements & Responsibilities
Attend Orientation Physical ability to lift 35 pounds
18 years of age or older 6-month commitment
Call clients monthly to arrange
delivery time
Stay updated on volunteer &
civil rights training
Boxes must be delivered between the
1st and 25th of each month
Must have valid driver’s license &
current auto insurance
Boxes must be personally delivered and not
left outside front door
Minimum of 2 people are recommended
to make deliveries
Have basic understanding & knowledge of
physical & emotional aspects of clients
Keep updated information & report back on
each client (i.e. has a cat, moved, non-
working phone)
As a Food Box Volunteer, we require you deliver to a minimum of 3 clients, but you can
exceed this number. You will be delivering to the same clients each month, and are required
to make a 6-month commitment. Each month volunteers deliver one box of food, as well as
any other perishable or non-perishable items we have in stock in the Food Box Area to each
client.
Requirements & Responsibilities:
Food Box Volunteer FAQ’s Where do food box recipients live? Recipients primarily reside in the more central areas of the Salt Lake Valley, however, some deliveries can range as far north as Rose Park, as far south as Riverton, or as far west as Magna.
Can I request where my deliveries are located? Yes, we will do our best to match volunteers to specifically requested areas as they are available.
Can I stay to visit with food box recipients while delivering food to them? Some recipients very much enjoy visitors and would love to talk with you when you deliver their food box. However, some are not as social as others and only want their food box delivered to them. We ask that volunteers are sensitive to the individuals to whom they’re delivering and not stay to visit if the senior doesn’t seem to want company. Also, volunteers should not feel obligated to stay and visit if time constraints do not allow them to do so.
How long does a food box delivery take? Each delivery takes approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. We ask that deliveries be completed during the following hours:
Mon. - Thurs: 9:00am-8:00pm (pickup at UFB by 7:00pm)
Fridays: 9:00am-5:00pm (pick up at UFB by 4:00)
Saturdays: 9:00am-2:00pm (pick up at UFB by 1:00pm)
No Sunday or holiday deliveries. Visit www.utahfoodbank.org/volunteer-hours for closure dates.
Do I have to use my own car to make the deliveries?
Yes, we rely on volunteers to make deliveries with their own vehicles.
Can I bring my children?
Yes, delivering food boxes can be a great family activity. We suggest visiting the client once and requesting permission prior to bringing children for the comfort of both the client and members of your family.
Can I deliver boxes to complete court-ordered hours?
Unfortunately, volunteers cannot complete court-ordered hours through this program. Please call 801-887-1234 for other ways to complete court-ordered hours.
What if I am going on vacation or get sick?
Please notify the Food Box Coordinator as soon as possible if you will not be able to deliver your boxes for the month. We will find a replacement to deliver the boxes until you can return.
Orientation & Delivery
Orientation
Volunteer orientation should take about 45 minutes and covers all the procedures listed
below It will also provide an opportunity to ask any additional questions you may have about
the Food Box program.
Step 1 - Check-out:
There is a laptop located at the Volunteer Check-in desk where you will access and sign out your client’s food box each month.
Click on the orange Senior Food Box tab
Click on Kiosk (Assigned Clients)
Find your name in the list (alphabetically by first name)
Click on Accept Clients to the left of your name
Select the clients you will be delivering to
Enter the number of volunteers who will be delivering the boxes
Leave a comment (if needed)
Click on either Print With Google Maps or Print Without Maps
If you want maps, click Ok on Print Job
If you do not want maps, click Cancel on Print Job
Screen will automatically return to client screen
Previously selected clients should now be highlighted green
Click again on orange Senior Food Box tab to hide client information
Please don’t hesitate to ask staff at the Volunteer Desk for assistance.
Delivery & Emergencies
Step 2 - Packing Boxes and Bags:
Back your car to the first loading dock on the west side of the building, just past the iron gate
near the volunteer entrance. Inside this door is Food Box Area: any item located in this area is
intended for food box clients. Items for delivery vary daily and might include household
supplies, flowers, and other donated items.
Each month, you will take each client a food box and one of every item in the Food Box
room (unless there is a sign indicating otherwise). There are plastic bags available, but you
are welcome to bring reusable cloth bags to help reduce waste and cost. There should be
flatbed carts nearby to help as you load items into your car. If you don’t see one, please ask
someone at the volunteer desk to get one for you.
Step 3 - Delivering Food:
Please be sure to deliver food items as soon as possible. Deliveries include frozen and/or
refrigerated items that will spoil quickly if not delivered promptly. Volunteers must personally
deliver each box to their clients. Leaving food at the door is not allowed unless
pre-arranged with client.
If you find the client is not home, you must bring the box (and the cheese if you are
delivering CSFP) back to Utah Food Bank. Return it to the volunteer desk and ask a Volunteer
Desk staff member to inform the Food Box Coordinator that it has been returned. Any of the
grocery items that were not in the box can be given out to your client’s neighbors or other
food box clients and do not need to be returned.
If at any point you feel that you and the client are no longer a good match, please notify the
Food Box Coordinator and other arrangements will be made.
Emergencies
If a client is in need of immediate medical attention, please call 911 and then call the Food
Box Coordinator. If someone has fallen, DO NOT MOVE the person but try to make them as
comfortable as possible. Please stay until help has arrived.
If the client is not home or something is amiss, please notify the Food Box Coordinator at
801-887-1271 immediately. You are our eyes and ears in the field.
THANKS TO YOU, WE CAN FIGHT HUNGER STATEWIDE!
Utah Food Bank feels incredibly fortunate to have our volunteers be the eyes and ears of the
Food Box Program. If you see anything that we should know about or look into, please call
Utah Food Bank’s Food Box Coordinator at the number below.
Have Any Suggestions?
We continually seek ways to improve our programs and your suggestions are an important
part of that process. Please let us know how we are doing.
Thank you. We are indebted to you and all our wonderful volunteers for generously sharing
your time, energy and care to help neighbors in need. Your commitment makes our service
effective and reliable. Thank you for being a part of the Utah Food Bank team--you are truly
making a difference in the lives of Utahns facing hunger!
Tia Allred
Food Box Coordinator
801-887-1271
Hillary Sorensen
CSFP Inventory Coordinator
801-887-1280
Volunteer Desk: 801-887-1234
Rev date: 7/22/14