Volunteer

We need you, in order to fulfill our mission of creating a place of equality where everyone with different abilities and resources will have the opportunity to eat healthy, homemade food in a warm and welcoming environment. 

You are a key component to the success of Essentials Cafe!

Greeters and Servers

Photo of two volunteer servers

These volunteers greet guests, take orders, serve food and help in kitchen while building relationships with fellow volunteers and cafe guests. These vital volunteers  help make everyone feel welcome and essential.

Kitchen Prep

Photo of pre-kitchen volunteers

Kitchen prep volunteers bake for the cafe and prepare ingredients, for soups, entrees, sandwiches. They work together in the West Side Kitchen on Monday Evenings.

Gardeners

Photo of gardener volunteers

Gardeners work together to provide herbs and vegetables for Essentials Cafe meals, grow flowers for beauty, and provide opportunities for gardeners to learn from each other and marvel together at creation.  We have garden plots at the Cafe itself and at the historic Widow's House on Church Street.

Here’s what our volunteers have to say...

"I am so happy to be able to give back and help out. I've met some incredible people and look forward to my days at the cafe."

- Nancy

"I love volunteering at the cafe. It's not only satisfying serving good food to those who are hungry but also providing a homey place to eat it in."

- Carol

"I like volunteering at Essentials Cafe because I like the concept of helping people and giving back. To see all the people smile when a meal is given to them is rewarding."

- Sharon

"I volunteer to give back to the community of people no matter who they are. I have met some wonderful people both customers and other volunteers."

- Barbara

Greeters and Servers

The Essentials Cafe has teamed up with One World Everybody Eats to create a Volunteer Portal. By registering up on this platform, you can choose the opportunity and shift that best aligns with your availability.

Opportunities

In order to plan your schedule, please review the available opportunities and select "View Details." Then, review the shifts and click on "Respond." You will have the opportunity to select more than one shift on the next page. 


Please note that there are morning and lunchtime opportunities available.

View Your Schedule

Your schedule is displayed in a convenient calendar format. By selecting your shift, you have the ability to easily manage and adjust them using the Manage Responses feature.


The Opportunity Responses section provides an overview of all your responses and allows you to log your volunteer hours or unregister from a shift.