Volunteer FAQ

You may have questions about lending a helping hand to Masbia. We hope you find the answers below but if you have further questions, please e-mailĀ volunteer@masbia.org

Who can volunteer?

Volunteers must be at least 12 years of age, and they must be with an adult over 18. For teenage volunteers without an adult, a parent or guardian must complete a volunteer form for the child. We reserve the right to not have young children volunteer if parents are unable to control children around clients.

What will I be doing?

Good question! If you are at our Flatbush central kitchen, you may be helping to prepare food by performing tasks such as peeling potatoes and chopping vegetables. Additionally, volunteers at our sites may assist in serving dinner, performing inventory for our food pantry, bagging pantry items up, and any other miscellaneous task. Please note that we attempt to match each volunteer based on their abilities, but we sometimes require tasks other than serving clients in order to operate our network of kitchens.

What if I am scheduled but can't make it?

We understand that life is busy, and that you may need to cancel or adjust your volunteer time on occasion. Please let us know at least 48 hours in advance. Masbia’s network has thousands of amazing volunteers like you who are able to step in when they are needed most, with proper communication from our Volunteer Office. If you cannot make your arranged slot, email volunteer@masbia.org. We reserve the right to take volunteers off the schedule if they continually cancel.

Can I bring a group?

Yes – and because we are so popular with groups and are in need for them, you must contact the volunteer office well in advance. The max group size we allow is 30 people. Please note that we may book groups 2-3 months in advance.

Do you feed volunteer groups?

No. Because we are on an extremely tight budget, we do not provide food. Outside food is not permitted due to our status as a kosher facility. Volunteers are welcome to eat with clients pursuant to all rules and regulations before or after their shift.

Can I show up without being scheduled?

No. Unless the volunteer office has sent out a request for large amounts of volunteers to show up during an extremely busy period, please do not come to the site without previous authorization. This will create discord and confusion for our staff.

What should I wear?

Volunteers should wear closed toed comfortable shoes. Long pants/skirt are acceptable, and volunteers of any gender may not wear sleeveless shirts, tank-tops or crop tops. Volunteers must cover their head with a hat or hairnet. We provide aprons but wear clothes that you do not mind getting dirty.

**We are not responsible for your personal items so please use your discretion when volunteering.

How can I help out with the administrative side?

Volunteers should select the appropriate tab/box when filling out their volunteer form. Additionally, in conversations with our volunteer coordinator, please mention that you would like to help with administrative tasks in our office.

What times are volunteers needed?

Volunteers are needed in Queens, Boro Park, and Flatbush from 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM Monday – Thursday and from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Fridays. We ideally want volunteers to be available for at least 2 hours.