Volunteer Role Description

Meal Service Volunteer

Position Summary

The Meal Service Volunteer plays an essential role in creating a welcoming, respectful, and dignified experience for patrons accessing services at CFOC-Doors of Compassion (CFOC-DOC). Volunteers assist with meal preparation support, food service, setup and cleanup, and patron engagement while helping to foster an inclusive and compassionate environment.

Responsibilities

Before Meal Service

• Prepare and organize food service supplies, utensils, beverages, and condiments.
• Ensure food service areas are clean, organized, and ready for patrons.
• Follow all food handling and safety procedures as directed by staff.

During Meal Service

• Welcome patrons in a friendly, respectful, and non-judgmental manner.
• Serve meals according to established portion guidelines.
• Replenish supplies as needed.
• Maintain cleanliness and safety throughout the meal service.
• Support an inclusive environment that respects the dignity and diverse experiences of all patrons.

After Meal Service

• Assist with clearing tables and collecting used dishes and utensils.
• Help wash, sanitize, and store kitchen equipment and supplies.
• Dispose of waste and recycling according to organizational procedures.
• Clean and sanitize dining and food preparation areas.
• Assist with resetting the space for future programming as required.

General volunteers do a variety of tasks including food service * dispensing pantry goods * monitoring washrooms * coat check * and various other odd jobs.

• Meal Preparation Assistance: Help with preparing ingredients, cooking, and assembling meals, following safety and hygiene guidelines.
• Meal Service: Serve meals to patrons in a respectful and compassionate manner, ensuring that individuals receive the appropriate portions.
• Clean-Up: Assist with cleaning the kitchen and dining area after meals, including washing dishes, sanitizing surfaces, and organizing leftovers for storage.
• Inventory Management: Help track meal supplies and ingredients, ensuring that items are stocked and stored properly, and notifying staff when supplies are low.
• Support Patrons: Provide a welcoming and supportive environment for guests during meal service, including assisting those with special dietary needs, and ensuring a dignified experience for all.
• Health & Safety: Adhere to food safety standards and hygiene protocols at all times, ensuring that food is stored, prepared, and served in a safe manner.
• Team Collaboration: Work collaboratively with staff and other volunteers to ensure smooth meal service operations and a positive experience for all involved.

Cooking homecooked meals for 8 to 10 individuals 

During the morning shift, the meal is prepared for service later in the day.
Tasks for this shift include:

• Buttering buns
• Rolling cutlery
• Plating desserts
• Sorting food
• Peeling and/or cutting vegetables
• Making salad
• Making fruit salad
• Bagging food to-go
• Washing, drying, and/or putting away dishes
• Doing laundry

During the afternoon shift, guests are served a meal.
Tasks for this shift include:

• Serving guests at their tables
• Busing tables
• Wiping tables and chairs as guests leave 
• Scraping plates 
• Preparing drinks (coffee, tea, juice, and water)
• Plating meals from the steam table
• Washing, drying, and/or putting away dishes
• Handing out food to guests to go

The Board of Directors represents the leaders of our agency and serves as a working board that oversees the long term strategic vision and overall health of the organization. Directors approve the organization’s philosophy and continually review the management’s performance while working toward agency goals. The Board of Directors will also annually review and approve plans for funding in view of organizational goals. Board members have a list of responsibilities that they renew every year during the annual election at our Annual General Meeting.

Job Duties – Legion Kitchen Helper / Food Service Support

Food Preparation & Service

• Take food orders from patrons at the counter.
• Prepare simple food items such as fries,  hamburgers, hot dogs, poutine, onion rings, chicken fingers, etc. while using grills, and fryers. 
• Portion, assemble, and plate meals, or package take-out orders for patrons.
• For various events brew and serve coffee, and tea. 
• Report used items per end of shift to ensure stock replenishment
• Restock napkins and condiments and refridgerator when needed 

Kitchen Support

• Wash, peel, and chop vegetables and or fruit for meal preparation.
• Assist cooks by preparing ingredients and performing basic food prep tasks if aiding in a large scale event. 
• Unpack, rotate, and store food supplies in refrigerators, freezers, and cupboards. 
• Wash worktables, counters, appliances, and maintain overall cleanliness of the kitchen.
• Sweep, mop, and sanitize kitchen floors.
• Remove trash and clean garbage containers regularly.

Dishwashing & Cleaning

• Wash dishes, glassware, flatware, pots, and pans by hand or using a dishwasher.
• Dry and store clean dishes and cooking utensils.
• Scrub and scour pots, pans, and trays

Dining Room & Event Support

• Clear and clean tables, trays, and service areas.
• Replenish condiments and table supplies in dining and or bar areas, including salt, pepper, ketchup, ect. 
• Assist with table setup and preparation for Legion events, dinners, and gatherings.
• Run errands and provide general assistance to kitchen and bar staff during functions.
• Aid in kitchen support, or serving support depending on size of event. 

We have various leagues that run thoughout the year, we need volunteers to cover the evening shifts doing pub style food, Tuesdays Darts, Wednesdays Euchre, Friday Night Darts & Kararoke 7:30pm till 11,  Saturday Afternoon Meatrolls at 2pm, Saturday night Live bands 7:30pm to 1am, and Sunday afternoons 1pm till 5pm. Looking for folks with cash handling experince, culinary students, etc. 

This program allows high schools students to be mentored and get the 40 volunteer community hours required to graduate from High School through skill building activities such as business management, communications, & Marketing, Project Management, and more for ages 13-18 years old. Volunteer throughout active program, distributing food to the general public, and feeding the homeless community members, participate in the execution of project such as Youth Mental Health Chat, Queens Park Mental Health Chat and various activities.  

Assist staff with social and recreational activities * work one on one with a client * help with meal preparation, serving meals and other kitchen duties

Deliver food boxes on Friday mornings to clients' homes.  Food boxes contain a variety of healthy food essentials, locally made or grown. Volunteers pick up the food boxes at the Whitby Hub.

Packers assemble food items, organize and fill food boxes on Thursdays.

Deliver meals along an assigned route usually designed to be completed in 1-1.5hrs * Deliver meals to the clients' door.  Have a few minutes for a brief chat.  Pick-up around 11am.

Pack meals in MOW bags in the morning hours

Clean out and sanitize returning MOW bags in the afternoon 
 

Providing a friendly atmosphere, fulfilling drink and snack orders from families, visitors and staff.  Maintain clean operations of café, ensure inventory is stocked, operate and take payment via point-of-sale device.

Facilitate Go Girls, program for girls 10-14 to learn about food and nutrition * provide guidance, attention, praise, and advice to instill trust and self-confidence * promote the importance of staying in school and healthy relationships with family and peers