VOLUNTEER
VOLUNTEER
WE FEED PEOPLE. YOU CAN TOO!
WE FEED PEOPLE. YOU CAN TOO!
We feed people, and we do it with dignity and compassion. We rely on weekday teams of 12-15 volunteers to operate our soup kitchen and serve 500+ meals each day. Our Daily Bread volunteers choose the weekday that best fits their availability, with an ongoing commitment to volunteer 8AM-Noon on their day each week.
We enthusiastically invite guests, volunteers, staff, and visitors to join us in celebrating our unique perspectives, whether that is race, income, housing status, religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability, or any other identity. We seek to embrace our differences, and we expect our volunteers to do the same.
There are many ways to help!
ON-SITE VOLUNTEERING
On-site volunteers serve meals for our guests in our dining room, box up to-go meals, bus and wipe down tables in the dining room, clean up at the end of meal service, and prepare food in our kitchen.
If you are interested in volunteering on-site, check out the FAQ’s below, then use the contact form at the bottom of this page to contact Kathy Schickel, Director of Operations. Thanks so much for your interest in lending a helping hand!
OFF-SITE VOLUNTEERING
Off-site volunteers hold canned food drives, cook food, bake treats, assemble sandwiches that they deliver to Our Daily Bread. Sandwich making and baking are great ways for families with children to have a fun time helping out! Assembling sandwiches has become very popular for team-building, congregations, schools, service-learning, and larger groups that want to work together to make a difference.
If you are interested in preparing food off-site, organizing a canned food drive, or other opportunities, you can learn more about our needs and sign up here.
We feed people, and we do it with dignity and compassion. We rely on weekday teams of 12-15 volunteers to operate our soup kitchen and serve 500+ meals each day. Our Daily Bread volunteers choose the weekday that best fits their availability, with an ongoing commitment to volunteer 8AM-Noon on their day each week.
We enthusiastically invite guests, volunteers, staff, and visitors to join us in celebrating our unique perspectives, whether that is race, income, housing status, religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability, or any other identity. We seek to embrace our differences, and we expect our volunteers to do the same.
There are many ways to help!
ON-SITE VOLUNTEERING
On-site volunteers serve meals for our guests in our dining room, box up to-go meals, bus and wipe down tables in the dining room, clean up at the end of meal service, and prepare food in our kitchen.
If you are interested in volunteering on-site, check out the FAQ’s below, then use the contact form at the bottom of this page to contact Kathy Schickel, Director of Operations. Thanks so much for your interest in lending a helping hand!
OFF-SITE VOLUNTEERING
Off-site volunteers hold canned food drives, cook food, bake treats, and assemble sandwiches that they deliver to Our Daily Bread. Cooking or baking are great ways for families with children to have a fun time helping out! Assembling sandwiches has become very popular for team-building, congregations, schools, service-learning, and larger groups that want to work together to make a difference.
If you are interested in preparing food off-site, organizing a canned food drive, or other opportunities, you can learn more about our needs and sign up here.
SOUP KITCHEN VOLUNTEER FAQs
SOUP KITCHEN VOLUNTEER FAQs
We serve anyone who wants a meal, with no requirements, ID, or proof of need. Guests can have as many helpings as they choose.
The number of our guests who are sleeping outside has risen 13% since 2019, including sleeping on the street, staying in shelters, staying in their cars, etc. Others may have housing nearby or travel to us to get food. Over 80% of guests come to us 2-5 days a week, so for many, we are a main source of food. Many guests have serious mental health challenges that require a compassionate response. We have a social worker on site to help guests with non-food needs.
Guests can choose to come inside for dine-in services or receive a carry-out meal, sandwiches, and drink at our to-go window.
- We serve 500+ meals each weekday, so our kitchen is bustling!
- Volunteers need to be able to stand and do moderate physical labor for four hours with limited opportunities for breaks.
Volunteers come on the same day every week (Monday-Friday only), 8AM-Noon, on an ongoing basis. If you need volunteer opportunities for evenings or weekends, click here.
We have limited space in our kitchen, and it is difficult to accommodate groups. If you have a group that would like to make an ongoing commitment, please contact Kathy Schickel at [email protected] to discuss.
If you are looking for a teambuilding activity, we have off-site activities like making sandwiches (we need 600 every weekday!), organizing canned food drives, and more. Learn about our current needs here.
The winter holidays are the busiest time of the year in terms of people reaching out to help… please keep us in mind throughout the year!
We ask for ongoing weekly attendance. If you are available every week, please contact Kathy Schickel at [email protected] or the form below with your weekday availability.
The minimum age to volunteer on site is 16 years, and any volunteer under 18 is required to be accompanied by an adult. We also have off-site opportunities available here. Please note that we are unable to verify service hours for off-site volunteers.
- Packing to-go meals
- Serve hot meals as guests who come inside go through the serving line and choose their food
- Prepping food, such as washing produce and chopping veggies
- Wrapping pastries for to-go meals
- Cleaning up the dining area, serving line and kitchen at the end of meal service
- Greeting and welcoming guests
- Bussing tables in the dining area
Yes, you will have a half-hour orientation on your first day.
Most volunteers dress comfortably and modestly in short-sleeved t shirts and long pants. Closed-toed shoes are required. Aprons, gloves and hair nets are required and will be provided. Kitchen temperatures fluctuate, so we recommend dressing in layers. High heels and short dresses or skirts are not recommended.
We are located at 1730 Race Street in the Over the Rhine section of Cincinnati, across the street from Findlay Market. We’re in a big mustard yellow building. When coming to volunteer, go to the glass doors at the corner of Race and Elder Streets, ring the doorbell, and a staff person will let you in.
Most volunteers park in the Findlay Market customer lots. We may have parking discount codes available.
Please allow time to find a spot and pay for parking.
You are welcome to hang coats in the volunteer room, but we recommend you keep important belongings with you, either in your pockets, a fanny pack, or other small bag that you keep on your person. Many volunteers bring a water bottle to stay hydrated during their shift.
If you need information about Our Daily Bread, please refer to the “about us” section of our website. You may not take photos or videos of guests.
There are many ways to stay involved with Our Daily Bread and our mission.
Opportunities vary as we adapt and change – please click here for our latest needs, including baking at home, assembling sandwiches, holding canned food drives, and more.
There are many ways to stay involved with Our Daily Bread and our mission.
Opportunities vary as we adapt and change – please click here for our latest needs, including baking at home, assembling sandwiches, holding canned food drives, and more.
- Commit to a food prep project
- Follow us on social media, and like or share our content:
Facebook (@ourdailybreadcincinnati)
Instagram (@ourdailybreadcincy)
Threads (@ourdailybreadcincy)
TikTok (@ourdailybreadcincy) - Purchase from our Amazon Wishlist
- Make a one-time or recurring donation- donate online here, or see other options here.
Please contact Kathy Schickel, Director of Operations, at [email protected] to coordinate availability.
