Opportunities From: Meals from the Heartland

Bucket Brigade at Meals from the Heartland!

Bucket Brigade volunteers keep bulk ingredient bins stocked at packaging stations, helping everything run smoothly during a packaging shift. This active, hands-on role is essential for keeping ingredient stations stocked so every volunteer can contribute to assembling nutritious meals. Working alongside staff, Pack Masters, and fellow volunteers, your teamwork helps feed children and families locally and globally.

Note: This position requires lifting 30-lb buckets on a regular basis.

Before You Arrive:

Arrive about 10 minutes early for check-in and orientation

Wear closed-toed shoes, and comfortable clothing; hairnets, beard nets, and gloves provided

Remove jewelry to keep ingredients safe

Bring your energy and teamwork- you’ll be moving, monitoring, and keeping bins stocked throughout the shift

Volunteer Waiver:
By volunteering, you agree to our standard waiver of liability. Participation is voluntary, and your registration confirms your understanding

Packaging with Meals from the Heartland!

Volunteers play a hands-on role in the fight against hunger by working together to assemble nutritious meals during a two-hour shift. You’ll work alongside fellow volunteers and our staff at stations to fill, weigh, seal, and box meals. Each packager helps create about 540 meals- enough to feed two children for a full year! This impactful work supports Meals from the Heartland’s mission to fight hunger both locally and globally. Together in 2026, we’re aiming to assemble 23.3 million meals, and your time and teamwork help make that goal possible.

Before You Arrive:

Please arrive about 10 minutes early for check in and orientation.

Closed-toed shoes and comfortable, casual clothing are recommended. 

Long hair should be tied back- hairnets and beard nets will be provided. 

Please remove jewelry before packaging to help maintain the integrity of the meals, this helps ensure items don’t get lost and keeps food safe for the families we serve.

Celebrate your team, corporate or branded apparel is encouraged. 

Bring your energy and teamwork, we’ll guide you through the process from start to finish

Volunteer Waiver:
By volunteering with Meals from the Heartland, you agree to our standard waiver of liability. Participation is voluntary, and your registration confirms your understanding.

Looking for a meaningful way to give back while helping lead others? Become a Pack Master at Meals from the Heartland.

Pack Masters are volunteer leaders who help guide meal packaging shifts and create a welcoming, organized experience for volunteers. In this role, you’ll help explain the packaging process, support volunteers throughout the shift, and help ensure thousands of meals are packaged for families experiencing food insecurity.

No prior experience is required, our team will provide training and support to help you feel confident in the role.

What Pack Masters Do

Help lead volunteer packaging shifts

Welcome and guide volunteers through the process

Demonstrate packaging roles and answer questions

Support a fun, safe, and impactful volunteer experience

What to Expect

Orientation with Meals from the Heartland staff

Opportunities to shadow experienced Pack Masters

Flexible scheduling based on available shifts

Quarterly meetings to stay connected and share updates

Background check required due to the leadership role supporting other volunteers

Pack Masters play a vital role in helping volunteers turn their time into meals for people around the world. If you enjoy working with others and want to take your volunteering to the next level, we’d love to have you join our volunteer leadership team!