As a general market volunteer for the New Roots Market at Redwood Farm (located in West Valley City), this volunteer will assist the New Roots team in several ways. This could include generally supporting market operations, staffing the benefits booth, or staffing the food pantry for distribution. Being at either of these booths means that the volunteer will either be the first to interact with the market’s customers that day, or they will be working with customers who may be food insecure and seeking extra resources. In addition to working with customers who are food insecure, many of our benefit recipients don’t speak English or speak it as a second language, so patience and understanding is a must in this position.

Commitment: Two Saturdays a month for three months between June 15 and October 12, 2024.

Times and Locations

Sunnyvale Farmers Market (Located at Sunnyvale Park, 4013 South 700 West): Saturdays June 15th-October 12th.

New Roots Market at Redwood Farm (Located at 3005 S Lester Street): Wednesdays from June 19th-October 9th.

Volunteer Requirements

  • Capable of standing for up to 3 hours
  • Capable of lifting up to 30 pounds
  • Be willing to patiently & clearly communicate with limited English Speakers
  • Available to sign up for at least 4 market slots
  • Arrive 15-30 minutes before the start of the market, stay 15-30 minutes after market close for clean up
  • Background check is required

Volunteer Responsibilities

  • Arrive on time for introductions and training
  • Assist Market Crew & other volunteers with setting up the distribution site tables, tents, and boxes of food
  • Assist participants in completing the check-in form (more information will be provided during training)
  • Distribute non-perishables, household items, and fruit
  • Distributing kid's lunches and tracking number
  • Help shoppers debit SNAP funds and distribute tokens for SNAP/Double Up Food Bucks
  • Collecting and inputting SNAP and DUFB shopper data for New Roots team. 
  • Help with clean-up once supplies are exhausted
  • Have fun & enjoy getting to know people

Learning Opportunities:

  • Practice communicating with limited English speakers
  • Practice languages you may be learning (Arabic, Swahili, Nepali, Spanish, English, just to name a few)
  • Gain a better understanding of the challenges associated with food access in a “food desert”
  • Learn more about the Sunnyvale Farmers Markets and the customers who shop there, many of whom are refugees

Next Steps: 

Sign up for a general volunteer orientation session here: https://signup.com/go/FVjFCTJ.

Questions? Email Amina, New Roots market specialist, at [email protected] or Dylan Cole, Volunteer Coordinator, at [email protected].