Volunteering At Open Heart Kitchen


With only a few paid staff members, Open Heart Kitchen depends on the support of our volunteers, whose time and talents are critical to preparing and serving an average of 750 meals each weekday. Thank you for considering OHK – we’re confident that you’ll feel great about your involvement in our community.

Registering and scheduling shifts at OHK is an automated process – there’s no need to call unless you wish to schedule a group volunteer activity or you’re forced to cancel one of your shifts within 12 hours of the scheduled activity. Before registering as an Open Heart Kitchen Volunteer, please read this entire page .

Once registered, you will not be able to access the activity sign-up page until your registration profile has been reviewed by the Volunteer coordinator. This
process usually takes one full business day.

What You Need To Know
 Some of our activities have age restrictions; 14 years old is the minimum age to register and volunteer without a parent. For children ages 13 & under, the parent must register and attend volunteer activities in which age restrictions apply.
 The registration and activity sign-up processes are automated – but tracking volunteer hours is not. For volunteers fulfilling community service, school or other organizational commitments, Open Heart Kitchen will provide a Proof of Hours form which must be signed by the site supervisor at the end of each volunteer shift.
 Please make sure you wear comfortable, proper clothing for public food service. Closed-toed shoes are mandatory.
                  How The Automated Process Works

Once you have registered and the registration is approved by the Volunteer Coordinator, you will be able to sign-up (and cancel) for shifts and activities through your online account. Any shift or activity available for sign-up is still open – full shifts will automatically be blocked from further sign-ups.

Open Heart Kitchen works on the honor system; if you sign up for an activity, you are expected to attend – or to remove yourself from the activity database with as far in advance of the activity as possible. If you must cancel within 12 hours of the scheduled activity, you must contact volunteer@openheartkitchen.org or (925) 580-1619.

The registration and activity sign-up processes are automated – but tracking volunteer hours is not. For volunteers fulfilling community service, school or other organizational commitments, please download Open Heart Kitchen’s Volunteer Proof of Hours Form; to maintain the integrity and compliance of OHK’s volunteer program, the Volunteer Proof of Hours Form must be signed by the site supervisor at the completion of each shift.


                  Once You've Registered

As soon as you’ve completed Step 4 of your online application (you cannot go to the next step, scheduling activity, until your application has been reviewed), you’ll receive an email with the subject line “Open Heart Kitchen – Welcome Message.” Once your application has been reviewed and approved by the Volunteer Coordinator – usually within one business day – you’ll receive and email with the subject line “Registration Profile Approved."

Before your first shift as an Open Heart Kitchen volunteer, you’ll need to review two videos – one on personal hygiene and the other on foodborne illness. When you arrive at your first shift, you must submit a signed Volunteer Agreement Form or an Under 18 Volunteer Consent Form. If you need to track your hours, it is your responsibility to have the Volunteer Proof of hours form signed by the Site Supervisors at the completion of each shift you work. You can access all of these resources on our Volunteer Forms And Videos page.