Volunteers are what make Sustainable Food Center so successful! Every year, SFC relies on the energy and time of hundreds of volunteers to keep our programs going. Without their devotion, SFC would not be able to help more than 35,000 Central Texans access healthy, affordable, locally-grown food annually.

For more information or to volunteer for any of the positions listed below, please plan to attend our next Volunteer Orientation Session. Please check our Events page for the date of the next Volunteer Orientation.

Sustainable Food Center will now be obtaining a criminal background check (CBC) for all potential interns and volunteers. The information will remain entirely confidential. All applicants will be responsible for a $10.00 administrative fee which is applied toward the cost of the on-boarding process. Please bring $10 and fill out the CBC form at the next Volunteer Orientation session and RSVP to rebecca@sustainablefoodcenter.org. Please note: this policy is in effect as of February 1. If you have volunteered with SFC prior to Feb. 1, you are only subject to a CBC if you are working with children.

On-Going Opportunities:

  • Represent SFC at Community Events
  • Canvas various communities with SFC brochures and flyers
  • Office assistants needed
  • Got skills in photoshop and InDesign? We could use that here!

Farm Direct

Coordinator of Chef Demonstration at SFC Farmers' Market
Work with SFC staff to arrange and organize monthly cooking demonstrations by local chefs at SFC Farmers' Market Downtown, at The Triangle and/or at Sunset Valley. Train volunteers to assist with set-up and break-down of demo area. Meet local chefs, learn to cook gourmet meals, and test fabulous foods.

SFC Farmers' Market Information Booth Staff
Spend your Saturdays chatting with friends, enjoying farm fresh produce, and educating people about the local food system by volunteering at the SFC FM Information Booth, Saturdays from 9am to 1pm.

SFC FM Kids Activity Coordinator
Teach children about the benefits of fresh fruits and vegetable and about the local food system through occasional kid's activities at the SFC Farmers' Market. Work with SFC staff to arrange kid's activities for festivals, special market events, and other market days. Plan and prepare instructions and materials for activities. Train volunteers to set-up, lead, and clean-up activities.

Media and Public Relations Volunteers
Help promote the SFC Farmers' Market by writing media advisories and public service announcements, create promotional materials, recruit volunteers and conduct presentations at various community centers. Volunteers will gain an understanding of the operation of a farmers' market, develop invaluable skills in marketing and public relations, stretch his/her creativity and meet local food growers.

The Happy Kitchen/La Cocina Alegre™

Presenters and Booth Staffers for Community Events
Be trained to present nutrition demonstrations developed by SFC's award winning food and nutrition program, The Happy Kitchen/La Cocina Alegre. Teach individuals at community fairs and events about proper nutrition through brief interactive activities.

Grow Local: Community and Youth Gardening

Garden Beautification Volunteers
Want to learn how to grow your own food and help others to do the same? Become a Garden Beautification volunteer. Help with general maintenance of several community and school gardens by volunteering during garden workdays. Assist with construction of new gardens when the opportunities arise. Learn about basic organic gardening. Make new friends. Flex your muscles, sweat out some toxins and get your hands dirty.

Gardening Workshop Marketing Assistants
Assist SFC staff in developing and marketing new materials for organic gardening workshops. Create user-friendly, educational materials for adults and children, including creating graphics and layout design. Knowledge of gardening is not necessary.

School Garden Mentors
Help children learn to grow their own food by being trained as a School Garden Mentor. Learn about basic organic gardening while also being trained to teach children about how to grow their own food. Assist with weekly maintenance of the garden, conduct activities to teach children about organic gardening, harvest fresh vegetable and fruits to fill your tummy, and watch children delight in the discovery of a sprouting plant.

General

Translators for Cookbooks, Workshop and Other Program Materials
Translate program materials from English to Spanish. Materials include gardening workshop materials, cookbook information, farmers' market fliers, website text and marketing materials. Help us ensure that all community members in Austin have the resources to access healthy, affordable, locally-grown food.

Outreach and Booth Staff for Community Events
Help educate the community about the benefits and importance of locally grown food, gardening, and proper nutrition. Be trained as a representative for Sustainable Food Center to distribute information and make presentations at community fairs and events.

Public Relations Volunteers
Work with SFC's Development and Community Relations Director to develop and implement an effective Public Relations plan. PR volunteers will assist by updating media contact lists, writing press releases and media advisories, coordinating press conferences and other media events, creating a quarterly e-newsletter, and generating media interest in SFC.

Administrative Volunteer
Although not the most glamorous opportunity, this volunteer position is the most valuable. Administrative volunteers handle the details, keeping the office running smoothly. Work with SFC staff to perform various administrative tasks, such as database maintenance, filing, copying, track volunteer activity, and website updates.