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Real roles, real impact. Pick something that fits your schedule and skills. Most roles welcome bilingual help but don't require it.
501(c)(3) public charity · Southeastern Minnesota
2 open roles
- generalPosted May 8, 2026
Community Engagement Volunteer
- Commitment: 3-5 hours/week, flexible · Weekly or as available
- Location: Rochester and surrounding communities (in-person)
- Language: Spanish strongly preferred
We The Gente is looking for community volunteers to help with the work that puts food on tables and gets families connected to resources. This is hands-on, in-person work alongside our team and other volunteers. What you'll help with: packing and distributing food boxes at our weekly Despensa Familiar, helping with deliveries, supporting WTG events and program sessions (room setup, hospitality, welcoming participants), and greeting families to point them toward the right resource or staff member. Some of our work happens beyond Rochester, in smaller communities across our seven-county service area. Volunteers may have the chance to travel with our team for community visits, help deliver resources to rural families, and be a welcoming bilingual presence for community members who don't have easy access to Rochester.
- What you'll need
- Reliable and on time. Comfortable doing physical work, lifting boxes, standing for stretches at a time, working in a team setting. Warm and welcoming with families, able to greet people in a way that makes them feel respected and at ease. Comfortable taking direction and giving updates back to the team. Tech savviness highly preferred. You'll be coordinating with the team through messaging apps, navigating shared schedules, and learning whatever everyday tools we use to stay organized. We don't need experts, but we do need people who don't shy away from technology. Comfortable with occasional travel within southeastern Minnesota for community visits.
- Who thrives here
- People who genuinely want to show up for their community. People who find meaning in direct, hands-on service, packing a box knowing it goes to a real family that week. People who treat every family that walks up with the same warmth, no matter how busy or tired the shift gets. People who keep their word about showing up. The volunteers who become part of our team are the ones who can do the physical work, connect with families warmly, and keep up with team coordination while staying curious. That looks like confirming shifts in our group chat, navigating our space, and staying in the loop.
- despensaPosted May 6, 2026
Despensa Delivery Driver
- Commitment: Min. 2 Hours · Weekly
- Location: Rochester
- Language: Spanish helpful but not required
Drive Despensa boxes from our Rochester distribution site to families across our seven-county service area who can't make it to pickup. Most routes are 1-2 hours of driving on Tuesday or Wednesday afternoons.
- What you'll need
- Valid driver's license. Reliable personal vehicle (sedan, SUV, or pickup). Comfortable lifting up to 30 lbs. Clean driving record.
- Who thrives here
- People who like driving and listening to music or podcasts. People who want to give back without being on-camera or in big groups. Especially great for retired folks, parents during school hours, or anyone with a flexible weekday afternoon.
Something else in mind?
Have a skill or window of time that doesn't fit a posted role? Tell us anyway. We shape volunteer work around the people who show up.
En español o en inglés. Hablamos los dos.