Volunteer Opportunities

Support your community in making nourishing food more accessible

Volunteers play a major role in the success of our food access and education programs, including our Mobile Farmers’ Markets, East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market, VeggieRx Nutrition classes, and East Palo Alto Community Garden!

As a Fresh Approach Volunteer, you’ll be able to gain experience working in public health, local food systems, and urban farming. Volunteers receive training on their first day by our staff.

Fill Out Volunteer Waiver

514 Opportunities

for volunteers to
engage with our work

380 Volunteers

supported our programming
around the Bay Area

1400 Hours

spent by volunteers helping out
at our program sites

*Data from 2025 Annual Report

Volunteer Opportunities

East Palo Alto Community Garden &
Community Compost Hubs

Join us in the garden or at one of our community compost hub sites in San Mateo County to support garden maintenance, plant new seedlings, harvest fruits & veggies, or integrate food scraps into compost piles!

East Palo Alto Community Garden Workdays
- Every Saturday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
East Palo Alto Community Garden Compost Hub Collections & Integration Workdays
- Every Wednesday (November to April), 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM at the East Palo Alto Community Garden (Collections)
- Every Wednesday (April to November), 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM at the East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market (Collections)
- Every Wednesday, 1:45 – 3:30 PM at the East Palo Alto Community Garden (Integrations)
Partner Site Compost Hub Collections & Integration Workdays
- Every Saturday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM at the San Mateo Farmers’ Market (Collections)
- Every Saturday, 1:30 – 3:30 PM at the Phoenix Garden (Integrations)

East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market

Support the operations of our East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market on Wednesday mornings, with customer service at the information booth, distribution of incentive vouchers, collection of market equipment at the end of the market, and more!

East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market
- Every Wednesday (April to November) at Bloomhouse, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Mobile Farmers’ Markets

On Tuesday (Antioch) and Wednesday (Richmond) mornings, volunteers provide customer service, restock produce, conduct transactions, collect surveys, and more. You’ll also receive $10 (before discounts) worth of fresh, seasonal produce at the end of your shift!

Antioch Mobile Farmers’ Market
- Tuesdays at the Nick Rodriguez Community Center,
  11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- See break schedule for closures
Pittsburg Mobile Farmers’ Market
- Tuesdays at the Pittsburg Health Center, 1:00 – 2:00 PM
- See break schedule for closures
Richmond Mobile Farmers’ Market
- Wednesdays at the Richmond Public Library,
  10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- See break schedule for closures

VeggieRx Cooking Demonstrations

Join us at the farmers’ market to support our VeggieRx Cooking Demonstrations: help us show community members how to eat more fresh fruits & veggies with tasty, culturally-relevant recipes!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I become a volunteer with Fresh Approach?

To become a Fresh Approach volunteer, you first need to fill out a volunteer waiver/application to be eligible to volunteer. Second, review the specific details on how to sign up for each volunteer shift/opportunity that can be found on the Volunteer Eventbrite page.

Why should I become a volunteer with Fresh Approach?

Becoming a volunteer with Fresh Approach means you’re supporting our work in making fresh, locally-sourced food more accessible to historically underserved communities. It’s also an opportunity for you to build communication, customer service, and team work skills.

Are there any age limitations to become a Fresh Approach volunteer?

Yes, there are age limitations for Fresh Approach volunteers.

For the East Palo Alto Community Garden and the San Mateo Phoenix Garden, you must be over 16 to volunteer alone, or those under 16 MUST be accompanied by a parent/guardian to volunteer. Any volunteers under the age of 18 will need a parent/guardian to fill out the volunteer waiver on their behalf.

For the San Mateo Farmers Market or East Palo Alto Compost Hubs, volunteers must be 16 or older to volunteer alone and those between 13-15 MUST be accompanied by a parent/guardian to volunteer. Volunteers under 13 will not be able to volunteer due to the nature of the work. Any volunteers between 13-17 will need a parent/guardian to fill out the volunteer waiver on their behalf.

And for the Mobile Farmers’ Markets and East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market, you must be 16 years old or older to volunteer. Volunteers ages 16-17 may volunteer on their own, but a parent or guardian needs to fill out the volunteer waiver on their behalf.

Can I bring my family and/or friends to volunteer with Fresh Approach?

Yes, you can bring your family and friends to volunteer. Each volunteer opportunity can accommodate a different number of volunteers. Check the direct sign up pages to see how many slots are available and age restrictions.

If there’s enough people joining you to volunteer, we’d also recommend you check out the various Team Building opportunities we offer.

How do I learn about any special or upcoming volunteer opportunities with Fresh Approach?

To learn about any special or upcoming volunteer opportunities with Fresh Approach, we recommend you sign-up for our monthly outreach newsletter and check out our calendar of events on our website or Volunteer Page on Eventbrite.

How can I prepare for a volunteer workday with Fresh Approach?

To prepare for a volunteer workday with Fresh Approach, we recommend you wear comfortable clothes, closed-toe shoes, a hat, and plenty of sunscreen. We also encourage you to bring water and a snack/lunch.

Can my volunteer hours with Fresh Approach count towards required hours for school or another program?

Yes, your volunteer hours with Fresh Approach can count towards required hours for school or another program as long as they are approved by your school/program. You can ask the volunteer coordinator onsite to sign off on any hours or can email [email protected] for a confirmation of hours.

Who do I contact if I have any questions about volunteer opportunities with Fresh Approach?

For any general questions, comments, or concerns about volunteering, you may contact [email protected].

“I love to come to the market and look forward to every Wednesday. We are all one big family here, and I love to be able to help people in the community. I love that I can speak Spanish to community members, and helping them understand our programs is what has kept me coming back to volunteer every season for the past 10 years!

I have loved to see the regularly shoppers over the years and see their families grow.”
Judy Darrell, East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market Volunteer

This could be YOU!

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Volunteer Opportunities

Support your community in making nourishing food more accessible

514 Opportunities

380 Volunteers

1400 Hours

Volunteer Opportunities

East Palo Alto Community Garden & Community Compost Hubs

East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market

Mobile Farmers’ Markets

VeggieRx Cooking Demonstrations

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I become a volunteer with Fresh Approach?

Why should I become a volunteer with Fresh Approach?

Are there any age limitations to become a Fresh Approach volunteer?

Can I bring my family and/or friends to volunteer with Fresh Approach?

How do I learn about any special or upcoming volunteer opportunities with Fresh Approach?

How can I prepare for a volunteer workday with Fresh Approach?

Can my volunteer hours with Fresh Approach count towards required hours for school or another program?

Who do I contact if I have any questions about volunteer opportunities with Fresh Approach?

This could be YOU!

East Palo Alto Community Garden &
Community Compost Hubs