VOLUNTEER

Please note: we will have more volunteer opportunities available when the growing season resumes this spring. Stay tuned for our new 2026 volunteer registration and onboarding process!

Make an Impact with Us

Volunteers play an integral part in our mission to grow the local food system. Thank you for your interest in getting involved!

Available opportunities vary depending on the season and our current programming. We generally have seasonal volunteer opportunities, with more needs and more types of opportunities to participate available spring through fall.

Scroll down the page for examples of the ways volunteers can make an impact!

Volunteer FAQs

Who can volunteer?

Is there a minimum age requirement?

How do I sign up to volunteer?

You can register to volunteer for Farm Fresh RI on this webpage. You will receive event invitations via mailing list where you can sign up for any of our available volunteer opportunities. Choose the opportunities that work for your schedule. The majority of our volunteer opportunities throughout the year are gleaning with our Hope's Harvest program, but all volunteer shifts will be shared in our volunteer newsletter, "Dig In." From there, you can click on each opportunity that works for you, and use the provided Eventbrite link to sign up.

Do you accept volunteer groups?

Yes, we can accommodate volunteer groups based on availability! If you would like to plan a group volunteer trip, please use this form to be connected to our team. Groups are typically limited to 10-20 people and dates vary seasonally.

For group volunteering, we ask for a minimum donation of $75 per person per shift. This helps cover administrative program expenses and increases the impact of your work. Due to shifts in federal funding, we're currently prioritizing volunteer groups who are able make the minimum donation.

Depending on the size of your group, and the type of volunteering you’d like to do, we require a few weeks to a month of advance notice ahead of when you'd like to volunteer.

Gleaning FAQs

What is gleaning?

Gleaning is the act of collecting leftover crops from farmers' fields. This surplus food gets harvested by our volunteers and then gets distributed to hunger relief agencies across RI, feeding our local communities in need. As an efficient and effective solution to the twin challenges of food waste and food insecurity, gleaning strengthens our local food system and makes our communities less dependent on commodity food shipped from thousands of miles away instead of what’s in our own backyard.

Why do farmers have leftover crops?

What should I expect on my first glean?

Hope’s Harvest runs multiple 2-3 hour long gleaning trips each week throughout the growing season in summer and fall at farms in RI and Southeastern MA. Each gleaning trip begins with an orientation and a harvest demonstration. Volunteers help to harvest and pack the gleaned produce for distribution to RI based hunger relief agencies. We recommend bringing water, sunscreen, bug spray, or anything else that will help you remain safe and comfortable on your glean!

What should I wear to glean?

What if it rains?

Hope's Harvest is ready to glean in most weather conditions, and we aren't scared of some rain! However, we do not proceed with gleaning in any heavy downpours or storms. If a glean needs to be canceled due to severe weather, a Hope's Harvest team member will contact you in advance via email. If you do not receive any communication, the glean is still scheduled to proceed as planned, and we look forward to your participation!

Examples of Volunteering Opportunities

Hope's Harvest

As an efficient and effective solution to the twin challenges of food waste and hungry people, farm-based food recovery (also known as “gleaning”) strengthens our local food system and makes our communities less dependent on commodity food shipped from thousands of miles away instead of what’s in our own backyard. Make a difference in your community by picking fresh fruits and vegetables for your friends and neighbors in need. Learn more.

Market Mobile

Support the local supply chain by volunteering with our transparent local food distribution service, which increases sales for local growers and provides wholesale, home, and SNAP shoppers with a system for buying local food directly from the source. Learn more.

Bonus Bucks

Provide administrative support for our nutrition incentives program, which doubles the spending power of low income, low access shoppers at the farmers market by providing a dollar-for-dollar match on SNAP benefits. Learn more.

Photography & Videography

Take pictures or short videos of our farmers markets, program operations, farm and food vendors, and more. They may be used on our website, social media, or other materials (with your credit/tag).

Harvest Kitchen

Make a difference in the life of an underserved teen. Volunteers help in our Harvest Kitchen production kitchen, where staff and trainees turn local produce into value-added products, while pursuing impactful relationships with our youth trainees preparing for the workforce. Learn more.

Farmers Markets

Play an important role at our farmers markets by providing assistance to both customers and vendors. Help may be needed at our many summer outdoor farmers markets in low-access neighborhoods in RI as well as at our wintertime farmers market in Providence. Learn more.

Community Education

Assist our Community Education team in offering cooking demonstrations and local food tastings at schools (preschool to grade-12), senior centers, and hospital cafeterias. Learn more.

Community Outreach

Help spread the word about our farmers markets, local food events, and community education programs in neighborhoods near you by distributing flyers and other outreach materials.