Volunteer

Spring 2023 Volunteer Form

We are excited to welcome new volunteers to the Pantry team in the Spring 2023 semester! Please follow the link below and complete the Qualtrics form to connect with us.

Spring 2023 Volunteer Form

Group Volunteering

Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate group volunteering.

Anyone and everyone can volunteer at the Hitchcock Field & Fork Pantry! We do not discriminate based on race, class, ability, gender, sexual orientation, or immigration status.

Are you under the age of 18? We’ll require parental approval prior to your volunteering here.

Under the age of 14? We’re sorry, but University policy doesn’t permit anyone below 14 years of age.

For more information about UF’s policies, visit the volunteer FAQ at https://hr.ufl.edu/manager-resources/volunteer-coordination/faqs/

What is the expected commitment to the Pantry?

How does volunteer training work?

We’ll overview the history, purpose and operations of the Pantry to prepare you for any questions guests may have. A staff member will also complete hands-on training with you for each of the different tasks you can help with.

At the beginning of each semester we offer orientation and training sessions for new volunteers. Throughout the term we also offer training shifts where you’ll work side-by-side with our staff members and current volunteers to teach you the different tasks relevant to the shift.

What will I be doing as a volunteer?

What should I wear to volunteer?

Do I need to wear a mask?

Can I receive volunteer hours?

How do I sign up to be a volunteer?

Nicoya Farm is a family fruit and vegetable farm, managed by Aviva Asher and Daniel Robleto on 2.5 acres of land in Southeast Gainesville. We work to build healthy soil and use intensive, regenerative farming practices to grow nutritious crops on our small market farm. We each began our farming journey in the early 2000’s and have extensive experience on urban educational and rural market farms throughout the US and in Nicaragua. In 2015 we joined forces to begin Nicoya Farm on leased land in South Florida and recently transitioned the farm to collectively owned land in SE Gainesville. The farmers aim to help create and sustain a viable and vibrant local food system, one that strengthens community ties, and breaks down barriers to healthy food. Nicoya Farm is committed to community food sovereignty, sustainable agriculture and cultural preservation of food and farming practices.

Join us at our farm to plant, harvest and care for our crops while learning about all aspects of a sustainable farm! We host volunteers Monday thru Friday between 8am- 12pm and we can occasionally host groups on weekends and afternoons/ evenings. Please email or call to arrange a time to volunteer. We welcome individual volunteers and volunteer groups to join us in a variety of tasks on the farm from harvesting to planting to weeding to special projects. For groups, we offer hands-on instruction, a brief tour, and a Q and A with the farmers as well as opportunities for tasting and reflection. For individuals, we welcome regular or one- time volunteers. We ask volunteers to bring water and wear shoes and clothing appropriate for outdoor physical work (close toed shoes, hats, etc). We like to send volunteers home with produce from the farm and we offer regular work- trade positions on the farm for anyone interested in volunteering one day a week in exchange for a harvest share (get in touch to find out more about this opportunity).

We ask that all volunteers and visitors continue to maintain social distancing and covid- safe practices while at the farm.

Our farm is located at 2202 SE 27th St, Gainesville, 32641, which is less than a ten minute drive from downtown Gainesville. Turn into the dirt driveway (address is posted on street) and slowly drive down the driveway toward the blue barn. Parking is on the right, across from the barn. We can be reached at 352-792-7178 (Daniel) and 215-805-2215 (Aviva).

Free Grocery Store is an all-volunteer run mutual aid operation hosted at the Civic Media Center. We are a food pantry that focuses on getting fresh fruits, vegetables, and food staples out to people who cannot leave their home due to disability, lack of mobility or transit, or because of COVID-19 conerns. We currently supportover 300 people across over 100 households weekly across Gainesville.

We’re currently looking for volunteers to pack or deliver orders on Tuesdays and Fridays. We also are looking for volunteers to glean vegetables at some of our partner farms, as well as people who can manage sorting donations.