FAQs
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Recommended Volunteer Onboarding Process
Learn more about us:
We encourage you to watch this 35 minute orientation session at your convenience Loaves & Fishes 101 - YouTube
Please let us know what you think (and so we can mark as complete on your profile) - it's part of our onboarding process and strongly encouraged if you'd like to become a more regular volunteer. Otherwise it serves as a great overview of our organization if you are interested in learning more about us.Get started today:
Our 210 Fry Street warehouse in downtown Nanaimo is a great place to start - it has shifts available seven days a week, including evenings and weekends!
You can register for a volunteer shift now by clicking HERE
If you live outside Nanaimo and are looking to volunteer at one of our North Island Communities, please email volunteering@viloavesandfishes.org
Interested in volunteering at a Free Food Market?
Typically we ask that volunteers complete a minimum of four shifts at our warehouse and do an orientation session before joining a Free Food Market team helping to distribute food. BUT - if you see a location looking for more volunteers and you don’t receive a restriction message, you are welcome to register! It’s a client facing (interacting with other live humans 😊) so suitable for adults/mature youth 16+ years old (not family friendly role)
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Click here to sign up for a shift.
For a step-by-step guide on how to register for a volunteer shift click here.
If more assistance is needed, please email us at volunteering@viloavesandfishes.org
Please note that there are a limited number of opportunities and shift times available.
Looking to volunteer at a Free Food Market?
We ask all volunteers to complete their orientation session and register for a minimum of four shifts in our warehouse to learn about our food recovery program. Once these steps are completed, email us to see which markets are seeking volunteers and we can add you to the appropriate group.
Nanaimo Free Food Markets:
Mondays:
Christ Community, 12:30pm – 2:15pm, 2221 Bowen Rd
Farquhar, 4:20pm – 7:10pm, 1009 Farquhar StTuesdays:
St Paul’s, 10:30am – 12:30pm, 394 Shepherd Ave
Brechin, 12:15pm – 3pm, 2020 Estevan Rd
St Philip, 2:30pm – 4:15pm, 1797 Cedar Rd
Wednesdays:
Farquhar, 9:20am – 11:45am & 11:30am – 2:10pm, 1009 Farquhar St
Alliance, 1:20pm – 3:20pm, 1609 Meredith Rd
Thursdays:
Farquhar, 12:20pm – 3:10pm, 1009 Farquhar St
Neighbourhood, 5:30pm – 8:15pm, 4951 Rutherford Rd
Fridays:
Salvation Army, 11:15am – 2:15pm, 505 Eighth St
St Andrew’s, 11:30am – 1:15pm, 4235 Departure Bay Rd
Saturdays:
Generations, 9:45am – 12:15pm, 1300 Princess Royal Ave
Sundays:
Harvest, 1:30pm – 3:20pm, 6553 Portsmouth Rd
North Island Free Food Markets:
Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays:
A Frame, 12pm – 1:45pm, 175 Cedar Street, Port McNeill
Tuesdays
Harvest, 4:15pm – 5:45pm, 7120 Market Street, Port HardyThursdays
Harvest, 11:45am – 1:15pm, 7120 Market Street, Port HardyThursdays (once a month – typically 3rd Thursday)
St John’s Ecumenical, 1:30pm – 3:15pm, 1100 Nigei St, Port Alice -
If you’ve ever received a reminder email from us, you have an account. If your email address has changed, you can email us for assistance. Please DO NOT create a new account (you’ll lose your history of volunteer hours)!
*Please note if you haven’t logged in for some time, you may need to take two minutes to reset your password and update your profile (quick & easy one-time process)!
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Enter your email
Click don't know/forgot password below
Send a temporary password to the email used for your account
Use the temporary password sent to your email to log into your account
Set a new password (it needs to be a minimum of 6 characters with no other special requirements)
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If you ever aren’t able to make a shift, we ask that you let us know so we can plan accordingly. You can do that one of two ways:
You will receive automated reminder emails for each of your scheduled shifts. Use the cancellation option found in the automated email reminder you receive prior to your scheduled shifts
For shifts you haven’t received an email for yet: Log into your online account here and unregister for any shifts you are no longer available for:
Step 1: Visit our website (vifoodbank.org) -> Get Involved -> Volunteer -> Individual Shift Sign Up
Step 2: View or Cancel Registration for an Upcoming Event
Step 3: Check box beside the shift(s) you are no longer able to make
Step 4: Scroll down to the end of the list and press ‘Cancel selected registration(s)’
*Please note if you haven’t logged in for some time, you may need to take two minutes to reset your password and update your profile (quick & easy one-time process)!
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Please encourage them to visit our website to learn more about how they can get involved and join us. You can now coordinate with friends/family/coworkers to sign up for the same shift(s) directly from our website!
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We welcome volunteers ages 10+ to join us. All new Youth and Adult volunteers must go through our regular volunteer intake process:
Youth 10-15 years of age:
* can volunteer at any of our locations alongside a parent or guardian
* the parent or guardian must register for only one volunteer slot for themselves and their child
* we recommend a minimum age of 13 if a youth is serving alongside a parent or guardian at
one of our Free Food Markets
- While we understand children and youth can grow in compassion and interpersonal skills through direct service to our clients alongside a parent or guardian, there are also times (not often) when clients can become upset, use inappropriate language, or are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Parents and guardians should evaluate their child's maturity level / ability to serve at our Free Food Markets with these potential scenarios in mind.
Youth 16 years and older:
* can volunteer on their own
* can register for their volunteer shifts
* do not need to accompany a parent or guardian, but are welcome to serve together