Food bank volunteer opportunities near Phoenix

Last year, 1 out of every 6 people in the United States looked to food banks and food pantries for support, according to a 2023 report from Feeding America. The end of COVID-era government assistance programs and the rising cost of groceries due to inflation have many Americans facing food insecurity.

According to a 2023 Department of Agriculture report, 12.8% of households around the country—about 17 million—were food insecure in 2022. That's up from the 10.2% of households who had difficulty providing food for everyone in their home in 2021, and also up from the 10.5% who said the same in 2020. It's the highest share of food-insecure households in the U.S. since 2014.

The rise of food insecurity and the economic situation in the U.S. means that food banks are struggling to keep up with the demand. "Local food banks, pantries, and community meal programs have become an essential component of many households' food budgets, especially as we continue to face increased food prices and the end of pandemic-era benefits," Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, said in a statement accompanying the nonprofit's aforementioned report. In an earlier 2023 survey from Feeding America, 65% of responding food banks reported an increase in the number of people they served.

It can be difficult to know where to go if you want to help, as many do during the holiday season in particular. To help guide you, Stacker compiled a list of food bank volunteer opportunities near Phoenix using data from VolunteerMatch. Read on to see what you can do for those grappling with food insecurity in your community, from distributing lunches to seniors to serving meals at soup kitchens.

Dinnertime Heroes Ronald McDonald House Charities
- Organization: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central and Northern Arizona
- Read more on website

Front Desk Volunteer Needed - Bilingual Required - Weekly Commitment
- Organization: NourishPHX
- Read more on website

Regional Director-Phoenix AZ
- Organization: CitiIMPACT
- Read more on website

Student Opportunity--Help Fight Hunger Around America's Breakfast Tables
- Organization: CEREAL4ALL INC
- Read more on website

Kitchen Support
- Organization: Sojourner Center
- Read more on website

Donation Intake/Processing for WHEAT's Clothes Silo
- Organization: WHEAT
- Read more on website

Envelope stuffing with Food for the Hungry!
- Organization: Food for the Hungry
- Read more on website

Food Pantry
- Organization: Catholic Charities Community Services AZ
- Read more on website

Holiday Humanitarian Aid Vacation in Belize
- Organization: Global Education Philanthropists
- Read more on website

Volunteer at Desert Mission Food Bank
- Organization: HonorHealth
- Read more on website

Creighton Community Food Box Distribution
- Organization: CREIGHTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
- Dates: Jan 6 to Jan 27
- Read more on website

Feed Homeless & At-Risk Children--HelpSnackz Truck Loading & Warehousing
- Organization: Homeless Engagement & Lift Partnership Inc.
- Read more on website

On-call Meal Delivery Driver
- Organization: FSL Helping You Live Independently
- Read more on website

Truck Driver (NO CDL NEEDED)
- Organization: Resurrection Street Ministry, Inc.
- Read more on website

Meals Delivery Driver
- Organization: Meals of Joy
- Read more on website

Southwest Valley Seniors need help with Grocery Shopping
- Organization: BENEVILLA
- Read more on website

Cook a Meal for a Neighbor in Need in Phoenix, AZ
- Organization: Lasagna Love
- Read more on website

Meal Donation Volunteer
- Organization: NEW LIFE CENTER
- Read more on website

Spread love, joy, and frosting in Peoria, AZ as a volunteer baker!
- Organization: FOR GOODNESS CAKES
- Read more on website

Become a Warehouse Volunteer!
- Organization: Midwest Food Bank, NFP
- Read more on website

Feed My Starving Children Packing Sessions - Mesa, AZ
- Organization: Feed My Starving Children
- Read more on website

Borderlands' P.O.W.W.O.W. at Bologna Elementary School
- Organization: BORDERLANDS PRODUCE RESCUE
- Dates: Nov 18 to Jan 20
- Read more on website

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 101 metros.