Volunteer at the Kitchen

Want to play a role in getting nutritious meals to seniors and people with disabilities in our community? Volunteering at the kitchen is a great way to help!

Our meals are produced at Open Arms of Minnesota’s kitchen in South Minneapolis. Volunteers are needed to help with tasks such as wrapping bread rolls, chopping vegetables, scooping cookie dough, and assembling meals for daily delivery. Volunteers play a key role in enabling the kitchen to produce up to 2,500 meals per day for people in need.

If you are looking for a way to volunteer with Meals on Wheels that doesn’t rely on operating a vehicle, this is a great opportunity. There are kitchen shifts available between 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Please sign up on Open Arms’ Volunteer Hub for a MPLS Kitchen Shift.

If you have questions, please contact [email protected].

FAQs for Kitchen Volunteers

Volunteers check in at the beginning of their shift at the kitchen where they’ll be given a list of tasks for the day. Common kitchen tasks include, but are not limited to, wrapping bread rolls, chopping vegetables, packaging soup, scooping cookie dough, and assembling meals for daily delivery.

Kitchen shifts are available Monday through Saturday. Sign up for a time that’s convenient for you and you can work with your volunteer manager to schedule regular shifts on an ongoing basis.

Shifts are 1.5 to 2 hours depending on the time of day you choose.

Yes! The number of openings are posted on each shift. Email [email protected] with questions about accommodating your group.

The kitchen is located at 2500 Bloomington Ave. in Minneapolis. Parking is available in the lot located south of the building.

Open Arms asks that upon arrival for your first volunteer shift you arrive 15 minutes early so that you can receive a tour of the kitchen, learn about safety procedures, and fill out some paperwork.

You must wear flat, closed-toe shoes in the kitchen. Please leave jewelry at home including watches, and don’t wear sleeveless tops, shorts, or loose fitting clothing items that could interfere with the food preparation. If you have longer hair, you can wear a hat or bandana, or a hairnet will be provided.

Whether you are a new or returning volunteer, you can sign up for shifts here.

Sign Up To Volunteer

Ready to get started volunteering with Meals on Wheels? Sign up here.

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Become A Meals on Wheels Volunteer

Sign up for Kitchen Shifts

Already volunteering at the kitchen? Sign up for future shifts on Volunteer Hub.

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Volunteer Hub - Meals on Wheels