Neighbourhood food relief
Food sorted here, eaten nearby.
Common Table is a neighbourhood food network. Come for one shift and help sort, pack or deliver fresh food.
A food hub that runs on a few hours at a time.
We collect fresh food that would otherwise be thrown away and get it to neighbours who need it, through a pantry, a packing bench and a short delivery route.
Everything happens in one building and a handful of nearby streets. Volunteers do the sorting, the packing and the doorsteps. Coordinators handle the schedule and the paperwork.
You do not need experience, a uniform or a long commitment. One shift is enough to find out whether it suits you.
Three ways to help
Pick the work you want to do. Every role lists the tasks, the length of a shift and the shifts open right now.
Pantry packing
Pack weekly food boxes for neighbours who cannot get to the pantry.
One shift is about 2.5 hours. Come once, or come back weekly.
Tue & Thu, 9:00-12:00 / Sat, 10:00-13:00
Read the roleProduce sorting
Sort donated fresh produce so good food reaches a kitchen instead of a bin.
Delivery support
Take packed food to the doors of neighbours on a set route.
One route is about 2 hours. Weekday afternoons suit most routes.
Tue & Thu, 13:30-15:30 / Sat, 11:00-13:00
Read the role
What a shift actually looks like
A shift is short, structured and led by someone who has done the work before. Here is the shape of it, from the door to the last crate.
Step 1
Arrive and sign in
Ten minutes before the shift starts. Someone meets you at the door and shows you where to leave your bag.
Step 2
Safety and task briefing
Five minutes on food handling, where things go, and what your team is doing that day.
Step 3
Work with your team
You are paired with someone who has done the task before. Nobody is left guessing what comes next.
Step 4
Break, then finish
A short break, then the last crates or boxes and a quick clean down of the bench.
Step 5
Tell us how it went
Two minutes with the coordinator. Say what worked, what did not, and whether you want another shift.
What we ask of you
- Turn up at the time you chose, or tell us early if you cannot
- Wear closed shoes and clothes you can work in
- Follow the food handling briefing
- Ask when something is unclear
What you can expect
- A named person who shows you what to do
- Clear tasks that fit the time you have
- A seat, a quieter corner or a lighter task if you need one
- No pressure to come back
Our work
Where the food goes
Donated produce arrives in crates, gets checked and sorted, then leaves as pantry boxes or route bags. Nothing sits in a warehouse waiting for a decision.
Read about our workOne shift. Pick a role and we take it from there.
Not sure which role fits? All three are listed in full on the volunteer page, with the shifts open at Common Table this week.