Opportunities From: Volunteer Partnership Platform

These volunteers support the Root Causes Fresh Produce Program by picking up food bags from Uncle Harry's General Store (1925 Yearby Ave, Durham) at a time of their choosing on Saturdays between 9:30 AM and 10:45 AM, and delivering these items to patients' homes.  Up to 2 hour commitment (e.g. someone who picks up at 9:00 AM should plan for finishing by 11:00 AM, a 10:45 AM pickup finishing by 12:45 PM at the latest). We routinely need 12-15 drivers since we serve ~150 households a week. The more people who sign up, the quicker the routes are for everyone! IMPORTANT: We manage volunteer sign-ups on a Google Sheet outside of Duke Connect Community. Please click here for instructions and to sign up! If the volunteer opportunity you are interested in has no open slots left, please consider signing up for a different day or role!

These volunteers help us manage the distribution of free food items to members of the community who arrive at the warehouse during our Saturday distribution days as walk-ups. This includes 1) table set up, 2) management of our “take-a-number system” to facilitate food distribution on a first-come, first-served basis, 3) sharing handouts with local food bank information and information about the walk-up table process that folks may share with other members of the community, and 4) re-packing table contents for storage. Spanish proficiency is highly recommended.

**Note: this opportunity varies in location depending on the week. Each week alternates between operation at Uncle Harry's General Store (1925 Yearby Ave, Durham NC) and the Durham Center for Senior Life (406 Rigsbee Ave, Durham NC). Please confirm with the sign-up sheet which location will be hosting the Walk-Up Table on the week you volunteer for. 

IMPORTANT: We manage volunteer sign-ups on a Google Sheet. Please click here for instructions and to sign up! If the volunteer opportunity you are interested in has no open slots left, please consider signing up for a different day or role!

These volunteers support the Root Causes Fresh Produce Program by calling and texting up to 8 participants between Tuesday and Thursday each week to confirm that they would like a fresh produce delivery. This role is a trained, semester/summer-long commitment that requires weekly action. You will have the assistance of a script to ask participants about the different programs we offer/they are eligible for. This role is KEY for making sure the right bags or produce get to the right people/addresses, and helping us stay in touch with our patients. Relationship building is encouraged!

IMPORTANT: if you are interested in being a volunteer caller with us, please email elliot.yoon@duke.edu.

FPP's calling system changed in March of 2025. Volunteers will now sign up for one semester or summer of calling at a time. It is not required that callers sign up to volunteer as a caller every week of that stint, but every 2-3 weeks is encouraged. If you would like to sign up to be a caller, and are prepared to do so for a full semester or summer, email Elliot at elliot.yoon@duke.edu. One-hour caller training, as well as a short online HIPAA training, is required.

More about the role: These volunteers will call and text between 5-10 participants between the Monday and Wednesday before a Saturday distribution to confirm that they would like a delivery. An email with instructions will be sent to all volunteers at the beginning of each week. You will have the assistance of a script to confirm delivery details. This role is KEY for making sure the right bags get to the right people/addresses, and helping us stay in touch with our participants. Relationship building is encouraged!

These volunteers will assist our distribution leaders in packing produce into bags and loading bags into drivers' cars on Saturday distribution days from 8:30 AM to 10:45 AM. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for multiple days! Packers will meet on Saturdays at Uncle Harry's General Store (1925 Yearby Ave, Durham, NC 27705).

We understand that many students who would love to volunteer with us don't have a car in Durham. If that's you and you need a ride to Uncle Harry's from Duke University, please contact another Packer who has graciously indicated they can provide one in Column J on the sign-up sheet. Please reach out to Scott Brummel (scott.brummel@duke.edu, 419-708-4569) if you have any questions!

These volunteers help us manage the distribution of free food items to members of the community who arrive at the warehouse during our Saturday distribution days as walk-ups. This includes 1) table set up, 2) management of our “take-a-number system” to facilitate food distribution on a first-come, first-served basis, 3) sharing handouts with local food bank information and information about the walk-up table process that folks may share with other members of the community, and 4) re-packing table contents for storage. Spanish proficiency is highly recommended. This role takes place on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays each month at Uncle Harry's General Store (1925 Yearby Ave) from 9:00-10:30 am. Volunteers should plan to arrive at 8:15 to sort produce at the table before we begin distributing.

On the 2nd and 4th Saturdays each month, we will be operating the walk-up table out of the Durham Center For Senior Life (406 Rigsbee Avenue, Durham NC 27701). This will take place from 9:30-11am, volunteers should plan to arrive at 9:30am.

These volunteers will coordinate with our non-Spanish speaking drivers on Saturday distribution days by making calls to our Spanish-speaking participants to let them know that their produce delivery is on the way. Because many of the families we serve primarily speak Spanish, these volunteers are CRUCIAL to help us receive any special instructions or requests from participants. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for multiple time slots/days!

Please join the Root Causes Drivers GroupMe and check it during your shift as drivers message with Spanish caller requests. Please reach out to Scott Brummel (419-708-4569, scott.brummel@duke.edu) if you have any questions! HIPAA training required!

This volunteer will be responsible for picking up compost at the end of Saturday's distribution (between 10-10:30am) and bringing it to the Duke Gardens. The commitment will be approximately 1 hour.

It is critical that the driver has a pickup truck/van/car that is large enough to fit the week's compost – approximately three 27-gallon bins and/or trash bags with additional compost. A tarp will be provided to keep your vehicle clean. A cart will be provided to assist with transporting the compost once at the gardens. The bins, tarp, and cart will then need to be returned to Uncle Harry's.

We highly encourage volunteers in this role to be physically able and/or to bring a friend along, as the compost bins can be heavy (~25-70 lbs each). If you are interested in this position, please read this document that outlines the roles and responsibilities of the compost volunteer in more detail. If you have any questions, please contact Spencer Hao (spencer.hao@duke.edu, 415-608-6567).

All drivers must read this document before volunteering. These volunteers will pick up produce bags from Uncle Harry's General Store (1925 Yearby Ave, Durham, NC 27705) on Saturdays between 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM at their chosen time and deliver these items to participant homes. Driving may be up to a 2-hour commitment (eg. someone who picks up at 10:00 AM should plan to finish by 12:00 PM at the latest). We routinely need 15-20 drivers to serve ~175 households each week. In order for us to generate driving routes based on an accurate headcount of drivers for the week, we ask that you sign up no later than 5PM the day before distribution. Once routes are generated, an email with instructions will be sent to all volunteers within a few hours of their pick-up time. The more people signed up, the quicker the routes are for everyone! We encourage you to bring along a friend for this role! Driving is much more fun with a buddy, who can help call participants to let them know that their delivery is on the way.

HIPAA training required! Please reach out to Scott Brummel (scott.brummel@duke.edu, 419-708-4569) if you have any questions!