FOOD: Organize​/Set Up Community Market

FOOD:
Organize/Set Up a Community Market

Get ready to move fast. Porchlight Community Services rescues thousands of pounds of food each week and redistributes it through a grocery-style, “client-choice” FoodSHARE program. They focus on zero waste, sustainability, and empowering families with choice. Volunteers help make this possible by setting up their community market, managing their food wall hydroponic garden, and dehydrating produce, all in a high-energy, fast-paced environment.

Volunteers will need to stay organized, think on their feet, solve problems as they arise, and maintain safety, cleanliness, and food handling at all times. Perishables must be put away within 20 minutes of arrival to ensure quality and safety. Volunteers help reduce food waste, promote food justice, and create a dignified, empowering experience for every participant.

Responsibilities:

• Unload, organize, and store incoming food deliveries quickly and efficiently, ensuring perishables are put away within 20 minutes to maintain food safety.
• Set up food stations, display rescued, high-quality food, and organize non-perishables, labeling clearly for easy participant access.
• Prepare designated areas for participants with allergies or special dietary needs.
• Assist with loading/unloading donations, help maintain plants or food wall garden (hydroponics), dehydrate produce, and perform light handyman tasks such as hanging shelves or pictures, patching walls, or general maintenance.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and orderly workspace throughout setup.
• Verify long-term inventory, check expiration dates, and adjust priorities on the fly to ensure the market runs smoothly.

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, physically demanding environment
• Able to lift and carry up to 35 pounds repeatedly
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail
• Quick problem-solver who can adjust priorities on the fly
• Able to maintain speed and efficiency while handling food/perishables safely
• No prior experience required — just energy, focus, and willingness to work hard

On-site training provided at the beginning of the shift.

Closed-toe shoes are required for safety. Comfortable clothing to work in and possibly get dirty. Hair pulled back.

Able to lift and carry up to 35 pounds repeatedly. You ll be standing and moving during most of your shift. Accommodations can be made for physical limitations such as sitting down during shift to perform tasks. The project space is wheelchair accessible but we are unable to accommodate medical limitations during event setups.

• Signing up as a team has been disabled for this project. Last minute team cancellations for a shift this small have been extremely detrimental to Porchlight being able to distribute food to families in need, so only individual sign-up is allowed and groups cannot be accommodated during this shift. Volunteers must be fully signed up through Hands On San Diego to attend.
• Please give AT LEAST 12 hours notice if you cannot attend.
• Attendance & Paperwork:
  Attendance is verified and they cannot sign off on paperwork during event days. Please allow 24 hours for processing.

The mission of the Porchlight Cooperative is to relieve hunger, eliminate waste and increase the self-sufficiency of individuals.

Population Served:
Families, Low-income communities, People with Health-based Concerns

Activity Type:
Cleaning, Collecting, Sorting & Packaging, Event Organizing, Food Preparation & Meal Services, Family Friendly

Volunteer opportunities are listed for dates in January and February 2026. Full opportunity addresses and directions will be sent by e-mail after you sign up. All volunteers must be registered in advance to attend.

• Thursday, January 22, 2026 From 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
• Thursday, January 22, 2026 From 2:00 PM - 7:30 PM
• Saturday, January 24, 2026 From 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
• Saturday, January 24, 2026 From 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM
• Sunday, January 25, 2026 From 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
• Sunday, January 25, 2026 From 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM
• Tuesday, January 27, 2026 From 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
• Thursday, January 29,…