Opportunities From: FareStart

Join FareStart in making meals at our Community Meals Kitchen!

At FareStart, we believe everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy, and nutritious food. For more than 30 years, we have prepared and delivered meals throughout the Greater Seattle area, providing over 19 million meals to local nonprofits, shelters, respite centers, youth and adult daycare centers, and schools.

Volunteers play an important role in supporting the daily production of approximately 2,365 meals. No kitchen experience is required — this is a great opportunity for hands-on volunteering, team building, and giving back to the community.

Because our meal programs rely heavily on volunteer support, attendance is very important. If you are unable to attend your scheduled shift, please unregister as soon as possible so another volunteer may sign up and help ensure meals are prepared for the community members who depend on them.

Volunteer Activities

Volunteers may assist with a variety of food preparation and kitchen support tasks based on skill level and comfort, including:

Assembling and wrapping sandwiches Washing, peeling, and cutting produce Cutting bread for croutons Portioning, assembling, and labeling meals Preparing kitchen organization materials such as flashcards and labelsLocation

Community Meals Kitchen – Galaxy Building
635 Elliott Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119

Parking & Transportation Galaxy Building Garage: approximately $16 Paid lot across the street: approximately $14 Free street parking available nearby Bus routes 24 and 30 stop nearby Shift Times

Saturdays & Sundays
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Arrival Instructions

When you arrive, please call the kitchen at 253-260-4266 for assistance entering the building.

Volunteer Attire

Volunteers working in kitchen spaces must wear:

Closed-toe, non-slip or rubber-soled shoes Full-length pants Comfortable clothing that can get dirty Long hair tied back

Aprons and hairnets will be provided. Please avoid wearing loose jewelry or nail polish.

Health & Safety Please do not volunteer if you are feeling sick FareStart is a mask-friendly environment

Please click this link to view the On-Site Volunteering Information Sheet before your shift. You will find key information here, including photos of building entrances!

Join FareStart in making meals at our Community Meals Kitchen!

We believe everyone is entitled to fresh, healthy and nutritious food.  We have over 30 years of history and expertise in preparing and delivering meals across the Greater Seattle area, producing 19 million meals for local nonprofits, shelters, respite centers, youth and adult daycare centers and schools.  Volunteers help with a variety of tasks to help supplement the large amount of work that goes in to creating around 2,365 meals each day. No kitchen experience required! A great opportunity for hands-on volunteer work and team building.

We rely on the hard work of volunteers in order to effectively serve our community.  If you schedule a volunteer shift and do not show up it means others are not able to sign up and we aren't able to make the meals our community depends on.  Please unregister yourself as soon as possible if you are not able to attend so others may sign up.

Volunteer Duties: Volunteers will help prepare meals by completing basic preparation tasks. FareStart staff will assign tasks based on individual skill and comfort level.

Assemble and wrap sandwichesClean and cut produceCut bread for croutonsPortion, assemble, and label mealsCreate flashcards and other

Location: Galaxy Building, 635 Elliott Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119

Phone: 206-588-4020

Parking: Is available in Galaxy Building Garage ($16), a lot across the street ($14), or on the street for free. Bus routes 24 and 30 stop along the street.

Dates/Times: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

9:30am-11:30am

Attire: Volunteers are asked to wear sturdy, closed-toed, non-slip/rubber-soled shoes and full-length pants. We also advise volunteers to wear clothes and shoes which can get dirty, we will provide aprons. Long hair must be tied back, and all volunteers must wear a hat or a hairnet (hairnet provided). Please refrain from wearing nail polish.

Group Size: Individuals or groups of up to 5 people.

All volunteers must be signed up in advance and complete a user profile on the volunteer website, those without accounts or not signed up for the shift will be turned away.

Health & Safety Considerations: 

Do not volunteer if sickFareStart is a mask-friendly environment

Please click this link to view the On-Site Volunteering Information Sheet before your shift. You will find key information here, including photos of building entrances! 

 

Help Prepare Meals for Seattle Students

Join FareStart's School Meals Kitchen team and help ensure students across Seattle have access to nutritious meals. Volunteers support our culinary staff by preparing and packaging large quantities of school meals that are distributed throughout the community.

This is a fast-paced, hands-on opportunity that directly supports children and families while helping FareStart fulfill important community meal contracts.

Volunteer Responsibilities

Volunteers may assist with:

Preparing sandwiches and other meal components Wrapping and packaging sandwiches Assembling and bagging sack lunches Portioning vegetables and other food items Labeling and organizing meal packages Maintaining a clean and sanitary workspace Following food safety and kitchen procedures

Requirements

Must be at least 18+ years of age Ability to stand for up to 2 hours with breaks Ability to perform repetitive tasks with attention to detail Closed-toe, non-slip shoes required Comfortable working in a commercial kitchen environment Ability to follow food safety and sanitation guidelines

Time Commitment

July 6, 7, 8

Shift 1--9am-11am

Shift 2--1pm-3pm

 

Impact

Every sandwich wrapped, vegetable portioned, and lunch packed helps provide nutritious meals to students throughout Seattle. Your support allows FareStart's culinary team to efficiently prepare and distribute thousands of meals to children and families in our community.

No previous kitchen experience is required. Training will be provided on-site, and volunteers of all skill levels are welcome.

OVERVIEW

FareStart is a social enterprise nonprofit that transforms lives, disrupts poverty, and nourishes communities through food, life skills, and job training. Our restaurant serves as both a dining space and a hands-on classroom where students gain real-world culinary and customer service experience.

We are seeking enthusiastic and dependable volunteers to support lunch service at the FareStart Restaurant. Volunteers play an important role in creating a welcoming experience for guests while supporting students in our job training programs.

 

ACTIVITIES

Volunteers may assist with:

Polishing silverware & rollups Polishing glassware for events & Guest Chef Nights Organizing equipment and collateral for events & Guest Chef Nights setup Any other tasks required to assist staff with set up for special occasions

 

Tasks vary based on daily restaurant needs and volunteer comfort level.

 

TIME COMMITMENT & LOCATION

·        Wednesdays & Fridays 2:00PM to 4:00PM

·        FareStart Restaurant, 700 Virginia St, Seattle WA 98101

 

QUALIFICATIONS

·         Friendly, positive attitude and willingness to work as part of a team

·         Ability to stand for extended periods and move throughout the restaurant

·         Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment

·         Must be 18 years or older for onsite volunteer opportunities

·         Attire: Closed-toe shoes, long pants, clean, comfortable clothing, hat or hairnet required in    food preparation areas and will be provided if needed

Join us at Oxbow Farm in Carnation to Glean produce for the Community!

FareStart’s Food Resourcing Team works with local partners to support our food security and rescue initiatives. From our local growers, we glean any goods that are seconds, in excess, or that they would like to donate. This product will be incorporated into our Community and School Meals kitchens to provide local, nutritious food to communities experiencing food insecurity.

For those new to gleaning, gleaning is:

The act of harvesting or collecting unused or surplus produce from farms and distributing it to those experiencing food insecurity Traditionally defined as gathering anything left over after a harvest

Bringing a Child to a Farm Harvest/Gleaning Volunteer Shift

Volunteers who have a FareStart volunteer account are welcome to bring a child under 16 years old to participate in a farm harvest/gleaning shift. To reserve space, please create a team when registering and sign up for the number of spots needed. After registering, email volunteer@farestart.org with the name(s) and age(s) of the child(ren) who will be attending with you so we can ensure everyone is accounted for. Children's volunteer hours will be added to the registered volunteer's account. We look forward to having your family join us in supporting local farms and reducing food waste!

Please watch these two training videos before showing up at your shift:

Lifting heavy objects   Knife Safety

DRIVING/PARKING DIRECTIONS:

10819 Carnation Duvall Rd Carnation, WA. 98014 

There are 3 entrances to Oxbow. Please use the public entrance, 1.4 miles south of the 124th Street roundabout. It will be marked with a “Welcome to Oxbow” sign. Following the red arrows/lines on the photo, you will turn into the entrance and drive down a dirt path. At the yellow ‘x’ is the parking lot and farmstand, where you should park and where you will meet volunteers.

Join us at Carnation Farms in Carnation to harvest produce for the Community!

FareStart’s Food Resourcing Team works with local partners to support our food security and rescue initiatives. From our local growers, we glean any goods that are seconds, in excess, or that they would like to donate. This product will be incorporated into our Community and School Meals kitchens to provide local, nutritious food to communities experiencing food insecurity.

For those new to gleaning, gleaning is:

The act of harvesting or collecting unused or surplus produce from farms and distributing it to those experiencing food insecurity Traditionally defined as gathering anything left over after a harvest

Bringing a Child to a Farm Harvest/Gleaning Volunteer Shift

Volunteers who have a FareStart volunteer account are welcome to bring a child under 16 years old to participate in a farm harvest/gleaning shift. To reserve space, please create a team when registering and sign up for the number of spots needed. After registering, email volunteer@farestart.org with the name(s) and age(s) of the child(ren) who will be attending with you so we can ensure everyone is accounted for. Children's volunteer hours will be added to the registered volunteer's account. We look forward to having your family join us in supporting local farms and reducing food waste!

Please watch these two training videos before showing up at your shift:

Lifting heavy objects   Knife Safety

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

28901 NE Carnation Farm Rd. Carnation WA 98014 

Turn into a dirt area with a white gate and a bridge just ahead (where the red arrow is; the yellow line is the bridge). Drive slowly over the bridge and between the path of trees (marked by the second red arrow). At the end there will be a few buildings and a parking lot (red ‘x’ and circle). This is where you will park and meet with volunteers.

Join us at The Bellevue Urban Garden (tBUG) in Bellevue to Glean produce for the Community!

FareStart’s Food Resourcing Team works with local partners to support our food security and rescue initiatives. From our local growers, we glean any goods that are seconds, in excess, or that they would like to donate. This product will be incorporated into our Community and School Meals kitchens to provide local, nutritious food to communities experiencing food insecurity.

For those new to gleaning, gleaning is:

The act of harvesting or collecting unused or surplus produce from farms and distributing it to those experiencing food insecurity Traditionally defined as gathering anything left over after a harvest

Bringing a Child to a Farm Harvest/Gleaning Volunteer Shift

Volunteers who have a FareStart volunteer account are welcome to bring a child under 16 years old to participate in a farm harvest/gleaning shift. To reserve space, please create a team when registering and sign up for the number of spots needed. After registering, email volunteer@farestart.org with the name(s) and age(s) of the child(ren) who will be attending with you so we can ensure everyone is accounted for. Children's volunteer hours will be added to the registered volunteer's account. We look forward to having your family join us in supporting local farms and reducing food waste!

Please watch these two training videos before showing up at your shift:

Lifting heavy objects   Knife Safety

DRIVING/PARKING DIRECTIONS156th Pl NE, Bellevue, WA 98008

tBUG is located on the right when coming from 156th Ave SE. Volunteers can park in the gravel on the side of the road (in yellow) or in the Lake Hills parking lot nearby (in yellow).

Note for glean leads: To unload supplies and load produce back into the van, you can park near the entrance gate but make sure not to block the trail. Otherwise, you can park in either area (in yellow) for they are roughly the same walking distance from tBUG.

Overview

Guest Chef Night pairs premier local chefs with FareStart students to create a three-course meal served by volunteer community members.  All revenue and donations from the event support FareStart's job training and placement programs. Volunteer servers will be providing table service for the evening.

 

DUTIES

Under the direction of the Service Leads:

 Pre-Service: Pour water, light candles. During Service: Serve meals, take beverage orders, and serve Non-alcoholic beverages, bus tables, refill waters, provide excellent customer service. End of Service: Take all dishes to dishwasher, put all linens in Aramark rental bags, wipe down tables in your section with sanitizer, assist beverage expo with breaking down beverage line and restocking and cleaning counter, assist with mezzanine and PDR breakdown and clean up.

 

TIME COMMITMENT & LOCATION

• Thursday 3:30pm-9:30pm

• 700 Virginia St. Seattle WA 98101

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 18 + years of age

• Must agree to adhere to volunteer expectations

• Attire: Sturdy, closed toed, non-slip shoes, no exposed underarms or midriffs, skirts or

shorts no shorter than 6 inches above the knee.

Join us at 21-acres Farm in Woodinville to Glean produce for the Community!

FareStart’s Food Security Team works with local partners to support our food rescue and access initiatives. From our local growers, we glean any goods that are seconds, in excess, or that they would like to donate. This product will be incorporated into our Community and School Meals.

21 Acres is a leader in sustainable and regenerative practices, serving as a living laboratory center for sustainable ways of living. Their purpose is to promote the benefits of local food systems within the context of climate challenges through their farm, community gardens, native plant nursery, education center, and more. 

For those new to gleaning, gleaning is:

The act of harvesting or collecting unused or surplus produce from farms and distributing it to those experiencing food insecurity Traditionally defined as gathering anything left over after a harvest

Bringing a Child to a Farm Harvest/Gleaning Volunteer Shift

Volunteers who have a FareStart volunteer account are welcome to bring a child under 16 years old to participate in a farm harvest/gleaning shift. To reserve space, please create a team when registering and sign up for the number of spots needed. After registering, email volunteer@farestart.org with the name(s) and age(s) of the child(ren) who will be attending with you so we can ensure everyone is accounted for. Children's volunteer hours will be added to the registered volunteer's account. We look forward to having your family join us in supporting local farms and reducing food waste!

Please watch these two training videos before showing up at your shift:

Lifting heavy objects   Knife Safety

Looking to get to 21 Acres on the bus from Seattle? Check out this route suggestion.

DRIVING/PARKING DIRECTIONS:

13701 NE 171st St, Woodinville, WA 98072 

The 21 Acres Center is a two-story gold building located on the right-hand side of the street. Turn into the parking lot and park anywhere. There will be tents set up on the sidewalk in the parking lot for gleaning events. This is where volunteers will meet and check in. 

 

After the Glean you are invited to enjoy the amenities of 21 acres which include:

Visit Campus, they offer farm walks, building tours to learn about their LEED platinum certified building Community Events, learn more and register here: 21 Acres Classes and Events Farm Steward Saturdays each week from April to November-work alongside knowledgeable 21 acres staff on a variety of seasonal restoration and farm projects that build soil health and climate resilience. Shop the Farm Market!  21 Acres Farm Market

Once a month, instead of Sofia's usual Monday Food Resourcing Kitchen Shift, volunteers will meet at the Beacon Food Forest located in Beacon Hill. You will be assisting with a small-scale harvest of mainly herbs, along with some berries and greens that will go towards our Community & School Meals Programs. It is a great way to get outside for a bit and enjoy the nice weather! Attached are highlighted areas with free parking once you arrive. 

Beacon Food Forest: S Dakota St, Seattle WA 98198

Beacon Food Forest is a 7-acre food forest adjacent to Jefferson Park on Beacon Hill near 15th Avenue South and South Dakota St.  Free parking highlighted below, meet FareStart staff at the gazebo entrance.

Volunteers will work on a variety of projects to set up the ballroom, wine auction, volunteer lounge and more at Fremont Studios.

 

 

Volunteers will check guests in on laptops, confirm payment options, distribute name tags and answer questions.

 

There will be onsite training for this role but volunteers should have an overall level of comfort with technology and computers.

Volunteers will take bid acknowledgement form and item pickup instructions to winning bidder and take forms to registration for input.

 

 

In the center of the excitement, volunteers participate in the live auction and use glow sticks to get the auctioneers attention and identify bidders.

 

Help Us Set the Table for Success

FareStart is seeking a volunteer group to sponsor and prepare new dining service equipment for our Guest Chef Night events. This hands-on volunteer project combines a meaningful donation with a team service experience that directly supports FareStart's mission of transforming lives through food, job training, and community.

Project Overview

To elevate the guest experience at our Guest Chef Nights, FareStart is purchasing new flatware and glassware for service. Before these items can be used, they need to be unpacked, washed, polished, inspected, and organized for our dining room team.

We are looking for a volunteer group to:

Sponsor the equipment purchase: $1,170.33

The sponsorship covers:

4 dozen dinner knives12 dozen soup/bouillon spoons8 dozen teaspoons12 dozen wine glasses

Volunteer Activity

After the items arrive, your team will join us onsite to:

Unbox and unwrap new serveware and glasswareWash all items according to food-service standardsPolish glassware and flatwareInspect for quality and remove packaging materialsOrganize and store items for upcoming Guest Chef Night events

Volunteer Details

Location: FareStart, Seattle
Group Size: 8–20 volunteers
Time Commitment: Approximately 2–3 hours
Skill Level: No experience required; training provided onsite

Impact

Guest Chef Night events generate critical revenue that supports FareStart's job training and employment programs. By sponsoring and preparing these service items, your team helps create a welcoming dining experience for guests while supporting individuals working toward economic mobility through culinary careers.

Sponsorship Opportunity

Project Sponsorship Amount: $1,170.33

Your group's contribution provides the essential dining equipment needed for service and includes a meaningful volunteer experience that connects your team directly to FareStart's mission.

Interested?

Join us in preparing for unforgettable Guest Chef Night experiences while helping create opportunities for people rebuilding their lives through food, community, and job training.

 

Volunteer Role: FareStart Ambassador (Information Tabling Volunteer)

Overview
As a FareStart Ambassador, you will introduce new people to FareStart and help grow support for our mission. Your outreach helps us welcome more students, expand our programs, and empower more graduates on their path forward.

Responsibilities

Pick up information booth materials from FareStart’s downtown location (700 Virginia St.) prior to the event (flexible timing in the days leading up) Transport materials to the event site and set up the information booth Engage with community members by sharing FareStart’s mission and impact Answer questions, recruit volunteers, and direct people to additional resources (printed materials and website) Pack up materials after the event and return them to FareStart in the days following

Qualifications

Comfortable speaking with the public and representing FareStart Willing to learn key information about FareStart (talking points will be provided) Able to transport booth materials to and from events 18 years of age or older Willing to complete a brief interview with FareStart staff

How to Get Involved
If you are interested, please email volunteer@farestart.org to learn more and schedule a brief interview.