Foodbank Volunteering
Every Friday, I volunteer at Foodbank Victoria in the Yarraville warehouse. I’m part of both the Rework and Pick and Pack departments, helping support people across the state who are doing it tough.
In Rework, we mainly check and package the fruit and vegetables that come in. We sort through fresh produce, remove anything that has gone bad and pack the rest into boxes so it’s ready to be distributed.
In Pick and Pack, I help put together food orders for charities, schools and community groups across Victoria. It’s practical, hands-on work that helps make sure food and essential groceries reach people who need them.
Volunteering with Foodbank has been a rewarding experience. It gives me a chance to give back, be part of a team and make a real difference in the community.
Rework
In the Rework department at Foodbank Victoria’s Yarraville warehouse, our focus is on quality control and preparing fresh items for distribution. This work helps make sure only good quality food reaches Foodbank’s charity and community partners.
We mainly handle fresh produce like potatoes, celery and other fruit and vegetables. Sometimes we also work with shelf-stable or non-food items like soap. Our job is to sort through what comes in, remove anything spoiled or damaged and pack the good items into boxes ready for ordering.
The work can be repetitive and physically tiring, but it’s essential. Rework plays a key role in keeping the food safe, usable and presentable so it can be delivered to people who need it. It’s all about making sure nothing goes to waste unless it has to.
Pick and Pack
In the Pick and Pack department at Foodbank Victoria’s Yarraville warehouse, we start by grabbing a pallet. Then, we take an order and use scanners to locate and pick items from the aisles. For each item, we scan three barcodes, the product, the lot number and the location, to ensure accuracy and traceability.
The job involves a lot of lifting and moving, as we pack the items onto pallets according to the order. Once packed, we prepare the pallet based on whether it is for pick up or delivery.
Finally, we complete the paperwork by signing off, writing down the order number, the pick-up time if relevant, and the total number of pallets included in the order.
Pick and Pack can be quite fun, it is a busy, active role that helps Foodbank get vital supplies out to the community efficiently and accurately.
Supermarket Bus
On Wednesday, 8 October, I volunteered on Foodbank’s Supermarket Bus.
I arrived at Foodbank in Brooklyn at 8 am, where we filled the bus with products one at a time before heading out to Thomastown. Once there, I created a display basket to show what was being offered and handed out yoghurt at the entrance of the bus.
We returned to Brooklyn just before 1 pm. It was a rewarding experience. We helped so many people, most of whom were grateful and kind.