Volunteer

Food Rescue Drivers

Food rescuers are at the heart of our mission. They are responsible for picking up food from our donor partners and delivering it to our nonprofit recipients. Rescuers are required to agree to our protocols, including arriving on time, safe handling of the food, and rescue reporting. Rescuers need to have reliable vehicles with space to hold several boxes or trays of food.

We are powered by Food Rescue US, a third-party provider that smartly pairs food donations with volunteers and receiving organizations that feed hungry people.

On Food Rescue you will:

Sign our drivers’ pledge
Learn basic food handling guidelines
Take a quick quiz
Sign up for your first food rescue!

Volunteer Food Rescuer Info

Rescues take 30-60 minutes each and require the following:

Arrive on time at the food donor location and contact the site coordinator upon arrival.
Make sure that your trunk or the back of your car is free of clutter, debris, and dirt.
Please do not open packaged foods or touch the food in any way.
Follow the protocol specific to the donor site for collecting and loading the food.
Drive directly to the nonprofit recipient location and contact the site coordinator upon arrival.
Wait for food to be unloaded from the car by site staff or help with unloading.
Report that the rescue has been completed and enter details into the ChowMatch software.
You may take pictures of your rescue to post to social media or text them to 704-287-0343.

Ready to become a Food Rescue Driver? Sign up now at Food Rescue. The signup process takes about 30 minutes.

Want more information about becoming a Volunteer? Fill out the form below!

Robert Holly |

Volunteer Food Rescuer

With over 150,000 fellow Mecklenburg County residents facing food insecurity, I am motivated to act and help others. Every food rescue run connects the generosity of a donor with individual needs served by a recipient organization. I am humbled to volunteer and help Feeding Charlotte achieve the mission of eliminating food insecurity.

Karen Dougherty |

Volunteer Food Rescuer

I love volunteering for Feeding Charlotte because it’s such a simple and direct way to help solve two complex problems I care deeply about: hunger and food waste. When I deliver donated food I don’t typically interact with the people who benefit, but this summer I did some drop-offs to a summer camp in an impoverished area of Charlotte.

The joy on the faces of the kids melted my heart and made me realize how much this food means to the people who receive it.

Taneka Nicholson |

Volunteer Food Rescuer

Thank you! I felt very honored and grateful to be able to help out! Today was a beautiful, productive fulfilling blessed day!

Paul Maxwell |

Volunteer Food Rescuer

Food and shelter insecurity are very important issues for my wife and I. After investigating various opportunities to make a difference, we settled upon Feeding Charlotte and Roof Above. Working with Feeding Charlotte, we’ve become even more keenly aware of the massive volume of food going to waste while our neighbors go hungry. Working with Feeding Charlotte also allows us flexibility to pursue other opportunities.

Kass Fincher |

Volunteer Food Rescuer

I enjoy meeting and connecting with the donors and recipients—everybody is so committed to helping feed Charlotte’s residents.

Holly Young |

Volunteer Food Rescuer

Feeding Charlotte provides opportunities every day to make a difference in someone’s life: someone who doesn’t know where his/her meal is coming from and who is discouraged by food insecurity. By picking up food donations and delivering directly to needy clients, I can see in tangible ways how people are helped every day with this most basic of needs– food. I’m honored to be a part of Feeding Charlotte and to serve others.

Chef Jay Z |

Volunteer Food Rescuer

Great labeling, food handling and hospitality. Great food going to a great place. Delivery to The Relatives! The receiving company also so proud of the food and put it to good use!!!!