Community Health Volunteer Program

Volunteer description:

Learn what it takes to operate a nonprofit restaurant! Located on Buffalo's Lower West Side, Big Big Table Community Cafe is a pay-as-you-can lunchtime establishment with a mission to provide everyone who walks through its doors with a nutritious, chef-prepared meal and a true restaurant experience, regardless of their financial situation. Our unique participation-based model offers multiple ways for guests to contribute in exchange for their meals. Whether opting for a monetary donation, assisting with a cleaning task, or bringing in fresh produce or pantry items, each person has a meaningful way to contribute. To learn more about the PAYC model, visit bigbigtable.org.

This volunteer project involves assisting the BBT staff operate community lunch service for 3+ hours per week for the duration of the assignment. Tasks will include light cleaning and/or food preparation, collaborating with other volunteers, and interacting with a diverse community that includes families, older adults, and people experiencing homelessness, mental illness, and/or substance use disorders. Volunteers will have the opportunity to shadow each of Big Big Table's staff members to learn about human services and nonprofit administration. Depending on the volunteer's own interests and availability, there may also be the opportunity to assist with special projects, such as off-site tabling, developing marketing materials, or assisting with the development of our new Healthy Eating Across the Lifespan (HEAL) initiative.

Description of an ideal volunteer:

The ideal Big Big Table volunteer is friendly, compassionate, and able to engage respectfully with a diverse community. They are comfortable working in what is often a high-stimulation environment (lots of things happening at once in the midst of lunch service!). They are excited to learn, and to offer their feedback and ideas so the cafe can be the best version of itself!

What prior knowledge may be helpful:

It is helpful (though certainly not required!) for volunteers to have some experience working in a retail, customer service, or restaurant/cafe setting. Having a basic understanding of the social determinants of health, trauma-informed care, and/or harm reduction principles is also a huge plus.

Available volunteer shifts:

Volunteers must be on-site Thursdays or Fridays for a minimum of three hours between 9:30am and 4pm. The shift day and time can be adjusted on a weekly basis as needed-- our team is flexible and happy to accommodate variable student schedules

What type of student would be successful in this setting:

This volunteer opportunity would particularly suit those interested in food security, community development, or social work. However, we encourage students of all backgrounds and interests to volunteer.

Transportation needs:

Volunteers will report to 272 Hudson St. in Buffalo (14201) to complete their service hours. A personal vehicle is not required. There is a #3 bus stop outside of the cafe for those who utilize transit.

Interested but not ready to commit?

Those who are curious but not ready to commit are encouraged to attend a 2.5-hour volunteer shift at the cafe to get a taste (no pun intended!) for what the work entails. To inquire about signing up for a single shift, reach out to morgan@bigbigtable.org.

Volunteer description:

Volunteers are needed to assist in our Alfiero Family Center Kitchen. Volunteers can expect to assist with basic meal prep, serving residents, and community and cleaning

Available volunteer shifts:

• The following shifts are available:
  • Breakfast 7 AM - 10 AM
  • Lunch 10 AM - 1 PM
  • Dinner 3 PM - 6 PM

Transportation needs:

Volunteers will need to provide their own transportation.

Any other necessary information:

Volunteers do not need any prior experience, they simply need to come with an openness to serving wherever needed and a heart for our community in need.

Volunteer description:

Warehouse/Food Sorting

Volunteers will be asked to sort through non-perishable food donations and package them in boxes based to be distributed to our partner hunger-relief agencies. Volunteers may be required to lift small packages (up to 35-40 lbs.) and should have good organizational skills. The volunteer tasks can vary depending on what donations we may get in on any given day or week. Volunteers will be working in a warehouse and should dress comfortably. Closed-toe shoes are required in the warehouse at all times. Training will be provided, and all shifts take place at our Holt Street location.

Hours:

• Tuesdays-Fridays: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• (No Wednesday afternoon shifts)

Home-delivered meals (Meals on wheels)

Volunteers spend about an hour or two of their day delivering meals on a specific route.

Meal delivery routes go throughout Erie and Niagara counties with a typical route taking about an hour to complete. These volunteers are helping to deliver much- needed nutrition for up to 12 clients during the lunch hour

Hours:

• Mondays through Fridays, 11am to 1pm. 
• We’re flexible with time commitment here. Some volunteers work every day, while some just help once a month.

Front desk volunteer:

Front desk volunteers assist at both of our office buildings (Holt Street and James. E Casey Drive).

Volunteers assisting with this opportunity are responsible for answering phonecalls, greeting guests and having them sign in, and other administrative tasks.

Hours:

• Monday through Friday between the hours of 8am and 4pm.
• Shifts run 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., or volunteers are welcome to volunteer for full days from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (with a lunch break).

Companion Calls:

Assistance with calling our home delivered meal clients, checking in on them and providing them with some friendly socialization. These calls are meant to help combat the isolation that a lot of our client’s face, as many of them are homebound, and very often the only person they see in a day is the volunteer who is delivering their meals. All shifts take place at our Holt Street location, and volunteers must be 18 years or older to participate.

Hours:

• Tuesdays-Fridays: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Meal Packaging:

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, volunteers help with packaging frozen meals for our meal delivery clients. To ensure that all clients are still receiving the meals they need, during the weekend, our volunteers help to package frozen meals for them that then get distributed on a weekly basis. These shifts take place at FeedMore WNY’s James E. Casey location. All volunteers should wear closed-toe shoes.

Hours:

• Tuesdays & Thursdays: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Transportation needs:

Students will need to provide their own transportation

Volunteer description:

The Food Recovery Network (FRN) is the largest student-led initiative fighting food waste and food insecurity in America. FRN is a national organization run on 200+ college and university campuses in 46 states and Washington DC. At the University at Buffalo, the UB Chapter of FRN fights food waste and food insecurity in the Western New York Region. Partnering with UB Campus Dining and Shops, recoveries take place across both North and South Campus throughout the weekdays in all dining hall locations (C3, Govs Dining, and Main Street Market) as well as grab-and-go locations (One World Cafe, Capen Cafe, and Bulls on The Run). Food then gets distributed to those who are food insecure with WNY non-profit partners. To complete a typical dining hall recovery, student volunteers package food into trays that are left on the serving line, label its contents, weigh the tray, and then place it into the Crescore to go into the location’s fridge. Our volunteers repeat this process until all leftover food is collected in the dining hall for that night. With the help of our 200+ student volunteers, we have recovered over 50,000 pounds as of May 2024, which has helped distribute over 41,500 meals to our community members!

Description of an ideal volunteer:

Volunteers should have a passion for helping their community! Food recoveries are a very tangible form of service that allows volunteers to see directly what is being given back to their community.

What prior knowledge may be helpful:

No prior knowledge is required! All volunteers receive food safety training before completing their first food recovery.

Available volunteer shifts:

• Food recoveries typically take no more than 30 minutes to complete, so when you sign up for a recovery spot, anticipate a low time commitment.
• Recoveries occur every weekday (Monday-Friday) from hours from all hours between 4pm-9:30pm. Depending on the recovery location, they typically occur immediately after the dining location’s closing time. Specific times will appear on the sign-up sheet.

What type of student would be successful in this setting:

Any student who is passionate about their community will thrive with FRN! Our volunteers all have various interests, whether it be sustainability, food access, or food waste, there is a way for everyone to have hands-on experience during recovery.

Transportation needs:

The only transportation requirement is to be able to access either dining hall locations (C3, Govs Dining, and Main Street Market) or grab-and-go locations (One World Cafe, Capen Cafe, and Bulls on The Run) on UB North and South Campuses. This is a great opportunity for those who live on campus!

Any other necessary information

• Before attending a food recovery, volunteers must be food safety trained. This training takes about 20 minutes and will prepare you for how to recover and what to expect during a recovery. Completing this training will give you access to our sign-up sheet.
• There is a higher need for volunteers on South Campus but volunteers are welcome for any campus

Volunteer description:

• At 394 Hudson St. (Friends of Night People’s Main Office) serving meals for all three meal times.
• At 243 Sears St. (Matt Urban Hope House Apartments) serving meals

Available volunteer shifts:

• Meals at Hudson on weekdays 8:45 to 11:15am, serving Lunch, daily from 12-4pm, and serving Dinner daily from 4:45-7:15pm.
• Meals at Sears on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3-5:15pm

Transportation needs:

To serve meals, both locations are accessible via the NFTA metro rail and bus system (Church stop for downtown area and Utica stop + Bus route 12 for Grant and West Ferry area). Street parking only for students that choose to drive to either of these locationsto drive

Any other necessary information

Students can sign up on our website or if they'd like to come as a group we can set that up via phone.

Who are we:

Little Portion Friary (LPF) is a homeless shelter in Buffalo, NY that serves up to 19 men and 10 women at a time. We provide shelter, daily meals, clothing, personal care supplies, laundry service, a day center, assistance to secure benefits and permanent housing, life- skills and therapeutic classes, and more. We are currently experiencing a volunteer shortage and need your help! We need volunteers every day, but especially on weekends, to help care for our guests and household tasks from 9 am – 1 pm, 1 pm – 6 pm, and 6 pm – 10 pm (weekdays only). We are also in need of volunteer cooks to prepare and serve dinner at 5:30 pm daily.

Volunteer description:

AM FRIARY HOUSE: The AM Friary house volunteer position is from 9 am to 1 pm. AM volunteers do room checks to make sure our guests are out of the house for the day and that there are no safety concerns in the rooms, do laundry, do any clean up that is needed in the house, answer the phone, answer the door, and sort the mail.

DAY FRIARY HOUSE: The DAY Friary house volunteer position is from 1 pm to 6 pm. DAY volunteers complete any laundry or clean up left from the AM shift, answer the phone, answer the door, assist with heating up dinner if needed, and welcome our guests back into the house after 4 pm.

PM FRIARY HOUSE: The PM Friary house volunteer position is from 6 pm to 10 pm. PM volunteers oversee the completion and clean-up of dinner, oversee the guests completing their evening chores, answer the phone, and answer the door.

COOK: The cook volunteer position prepares dinner to be served at 5:30 pm.

RESOURCE CENTER VOLUNTEER: Our Resource Center Volunteers work directly with our guests, Resource Center coordinator, and social worker between 9 am and 4 pm on various tasks

Transportation needs:

• Little Portion Friary is located near/on bus/train routes so students that are comfortable using public transportation will be able to easily access them
• On site/street parking available if needed

Any other necessary information

LPF is seeking self-directed student volunteers that are goal-driven and require minimal direction

Volunteer description:

The Family Help Center (FHC) is dedicated to supporting children and families in crisis through comprehensive services, including youth development, family support, community outreach, and essential resources like food assistance. Volunteers at FHC can engage in various roles, including:

• Youth Empowerment & Leadership (YEL) Program: Assisting with workshops, mentoring youth, and facilitating leadership activities.
• CORE (Community Outreach & Resource Engagement): Supporting community outreach efforts, resource navigation, and family engagement activities.
• Food Pantry: Assisting with food distribution, organizing donations, and supporting families in need.
• Family Support Services: Assisting with parent education programs, community resource navigation, and outreach initiatives.
• General Administrative Support: Helping with event coordination, donation sorting, and office tasks that support our programs.

Description of an ideal volunteer:

• We seek volunteers who are:
  • Passionate about supporting children, youth, and families
  • Reliable, compassionate, and eager to make a difference
  • Strong communicators who can work well in team settings
  • Flexible and adaptable to working in a dynamic environment

What prior knowledge may be helpful:

• Experience working with children, youth, or families (preferred but not required)
• Background in social work, psychology, education, public health, or related fields
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care or family support services (helpful but not required)

Available volunteer shifts:

• Volunteers are needed primarily between 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM, with shifts available on weekdays and occasional weekends.
• Specific schedules vary by program and can be adjusted based on volunteer availability.

What type of student would be successful in this setting:

• Students seeking hands-on experience in child welfare, family support, education, or community health
• Those who thrive in fast-paced, client-centered environments
• Individuals with strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to social impact

Transportation needs:

Our main site is located in Buffalo and is accessible by public transportation.

Additional information:

• Volunteers will receive an orientation and training to ensure they are well-prepared.
• Opportunities for internships and service-learning placements are available for students looking for a more structured experience.
• We welcome both short-term and long-term volunteers and can accommodate varying levels of commitment.

Volunteer description:

• Office volunteer:
  • Volunteers will help with in office tasks such as filing, organizing filling out forms. Our Offices are open. We have many different programs available in our Resettlement department, including Career Services, Family Support, Post resettlement, ESL, and Housing.
  • Multilingual students would be a great asset as some of our clients are still learning English.
  • Students would be expected to transport themselves.
  • Hours: Monday- Thursday 9am-5pm and Friday 9am-2pm. Half days are preferred.

• Home Setup:
  • Volunteers will aid in the set up of an apartment for a newly arrived family. Tasks can include
    • Cleaning the apartment: dusting, mopping scrubbing. Putting together furniture, arranging furniture in the apartment.
    • Setting up the kitchen space and bathroom space.
  • Hours: Students can expect to spend 3-4 hours during the work week Monday-Thrusday 9am-5pm on this project.
  • Apartments are usually located in the city of Buffalo so the students would be expected to transport them selves to and from the site.

• Supportive Play Group Aide:
  • Volunteers will aid in our supportive play group. Cultural Orientation is provided for our newly arrived clients, as part of that we offer a space for children to play so that the parents can focus on the information being presented. Students will lead play and games and activities for children.
  • Students with experience working with children are preferred, out going and able to adapt to changing needs. Our clients speak a multitude of languages, multilingual students would be a great asset to this program. Some of the common languages are : Farsi, Dari, Lingala, French, Swahili, Spanish, Arabic, Burmese among others.
  • Hours: The supportive play groups are held twice a week from 10-1pm. Students will be expected to transport themselves to and from the site located on the westside of Buffalo.

Transportation needs:

Jewish Family Services offices are located near/on bus/train routes so students that are comfortable using public transportation will be able to easily access them

Volunteer description:

The Million Hearts Health Screening is guided by the Centers for Disease Control. We began screenings in 2017 and have consistently conducted health screenings with the exception being during covid.

What prior knowledge may be helpful:

Some knowledge about high blood pressure and factors which contribute to high BP, such as diet, heredity, lack of exercise, no access to medical care, etc.

Available volunteer shifts:

Screenings are conducted primarily on Saturdays and some week days in the evening.

What type of student would be successful in this setting:

A student who is interested in promoting health equity through conducting Million Heart Health Screenings, comfortable asking health questions and providing health guidance.

Transportation needs:

Students provide their own transportation, carpooling is recommended. Limited transportation  available.

Additional information:

Interdisciplinary students are invited to provide their ideas on how to improve our screenings

Volunteer description:

We are seeking a passionate and motivated Public Health Student Assistant to support community-based health initiatives. This position offers an excellent opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in public health practice, community engagement, and event coordination. The ideal candidate will be committed to making a positive impact on the health and well-being of our local community through research, outreach, and program development.

Key Responsibilities:

• Neighborhood Surveys:
  • Conduct surveys with local residents to assess community health needs, concerns, and priorities.
  • Compile and analyze survey data to inform health programming decisions and identify areas for improvement.
• Best Practice Research:
  • Research evidence-based public health practices and interventions to support health programming.
  • Identify successful health strategies, the SDOH (Social Determinants of Health), and models from similar communities, and assist in adapting them to the local context.
• Health Programming Support:
  • Assist in the development and planning of community health programs that align with identified needs and best practices.
  • Collaborate with community partners to promote health initiatives and encourage participation.
• Event Planning and Implementation:
  • Support the coordination of activities and booths for the Health Fair, ensuring all event logistics are organized and executed efficiently.
  • Help gather feedback from participants during and after events to evaluate success and identify areas for improvement.
• Weekend Outreach:
  • Assist in planning and conducting weekend outreach activities in local neighborhoods to engage with residents and promote public health initiatives.
  • Collaborate with community partners to extend outreach efforts on weekends.

Benefits: Gain valuable hands-on experience in public health research, program planning, and community outreach. Opportunity to contribute to a meaningful health event that benefits the local community. Build professional skills in event coordination, survey research, and data analysis. Receive a letter of recommendation upon successful completion of the volunteer program.

What prior knowledge may be helpful:

Prior knowledge of community outreach, SDOH, marketing, and/or community health policy.

Available volunteer shifts:

Hours are flexible. The organization is open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, with an opportunity to earn hours on Sunday after 3:00 pm

What type of student would be successful in this setting:

A student who is passionate about community health and values the perspectives of neighbors would be most successful. Conversely, if the student volunteer is interested in non-public-facing work, the most successful candidate would be one experienced in research, preparing presentations, and data analysis/data storytelling

Transportation needs:

The student volunteer must have the ability to transport themselves to our location at 1218 Seneca St., at least part of the time during the volunteer experience.

Additional information:

Visit our website for more information.

Volunteer description:

• At the Suicide Prevention Coalition, we have several projects where we could use a volunteer and provide them with a meaningful experience.
• We receive many requests to table at various community events. Community partners from a diverse field of agencies, churches, schools, advocacy groups, etc. want us to be there to provide information on suicide prevention for attendees.
• We have information on pre-printed booklets, giveaways and free gun locks (an important intervention in suicide prevention) and information on Crisis Services 988 hotline number. They would typically partner either with me or with another Coalition member if/when I felt they were comfortable enough to do this on their own. That would not be required. Based on their interests and needs, there are numerous training opportunities they could shadow- in schools, agencies, first responders, etc.
• We also have applied for a grant to target physicians and members of communities of color by providing information for distribution in barber and beauty shops that serve black individuals. I could have the student assist with these projects.

What prior knowledge may be helpful:

Any prior knowledge about suicide prevention and/or a commitment to the issue would be helpful.

Available volunteer shifts:

• Flexible with the student’s availability and schedule experiences that are meaningful and meet their schedule demands. There are events different days, evening, weekends, etc.
• Supervisor would like to ideally connect regularly on Tuesday or Wednesday, could be flexible with exact time.

What type of student would be successful in this setting:

Bright, energetic, comfortable talking to people with diverse backgrounds.

Transportation needs:

Must have a vehicle.

Volunteer description:

• The Community Health Interventions Lab is seeking volunteers for the UB Veggie Van Mobile Market and UB Farm Stand.
• UB CHIL Lab is made up of researchers, staff, and students based in the Department of Community Health and Health Behavior within the School of Public Health and Health Professions at the University at Buffalo.
• At UB Veggie Van, our mission is to promote nutrition security among students, staff, and faculty. The mobile farmers market brings the farm to campus, offering an array of in season, locally grown fruits and vegetables and a 20% discount to students as well as nutrition education. We believe that everyone deserves access to fresh, wholesome food, and we're dedicated to creating positive change through our mobile market.
• At UB Farm Stand, powered by UB Veggie Van and Blue Table, our mission is to address campus food insecurity by offering access to free groceries. These free markets are open to all (students, staff, faculty, and community) but are aimed at supporting students most at risk for experiencing food insecurity. All food provided is sourced and grown through NY which supports local farmers and producers, strengthening our food system. This initiative is supported by a grant from New York State to the UB CHILab.

What prior knowledge may be helpful:

Knowledge of public health, nutrition, or food systems is beneficial but not requiredExperience working with children, youth, or families (preferred but not required)

Available volunteer shifts:

• UB Veggie Van – North Campus between 12:30 and 4:00 on Wednesdays, South Campus between 1:30 and 4:30 on Thursdays (students can choose shifts between these time ranges of at least 1.5 hours)
• UB Farm Stand – Mondays and Fridays across all 3 UB campuses, generally between 11:00 and 5:00 (students can choose shifts between these time ranges of at least 2 hours).

What type of student would be successful in this setting:

This opportunity would be wonderful for students interested in community engagement, public health programming and food access interventions, and addressing basic needs for students, like food security.

Transportation needs:

Students do not need a vehicle but must be able to get themselves to the market location. Markets operate on North Campus, South Campus, and the Downtown Medial Campus throughout each month.

Additional information:

• Volunteers will assist with moving and organizing produce, packing bags, and assisting customers. This opportunity requires comfortability working outside, as well as being able to perform physical tasks like lifting boxes, standing on your feet, and moving your body consistently for at least 2 hours or more packing bags and restocking.
• Opportunities to volunteer are available year-round