Frequently Asked Questions

How old do I have to be to volunteer?

• For our Restocking and Grocery Volunteer shifts, we have a strict age requirement of 13+. Please see our Youth and Family Volunteer Guide for opportunities available to those 12 and under.

Is there a dress code?

• Dress is casual but volunteers are required to wear closed-toe shoes for health code and saftey reasons. If you arrive in sandals, you will be asked to change into proper shoes before you can volunteer. We will provide you with an apron and a name tage to wear during your shift.

Can I volunteer for a partial shift?

• Generally, no. We ask that volunteers be able to stay for the entire scheduled shift time. If you need to arrive late or leave early for any reason, please contact us before signing up to discuss whether or not we can accommodate your request.
• Why not?
  • The Store operates just like a regular grocery store, and we rely on our volunteers to operate. If we find ourselves without enough volunteer support, this presents extra challenges for our operations and hinders the level of service we strive to provide our customers.

Can I bring a snack or drink with me?

• Yes! You are welcome to bring a snack and something to drink, and we will also have waters and snacks for you to enjoy during your shift. We ask that any food be consumed in the volunteer break area and not on the floor, but you are welcome to keep your water or beverage with you at your volunteer station.

Where do I park?

• If you are volunteering at the 12th South location, you will need to utilize the free street parking along 12th Ave. South or surrounding side streets. Please do not park in the parking lot in front of The Store or in the overflow lot next door. These are limited and are reserved for customers only.
• If you are volunteering at the Centennial location, you can park in the B garage where The Store is located. Please do not park in the reserved "Store" parking spots. These are limited and are reserved for customers only. Once those are filled, customers will need to park in other spots in the garage, so we ask volunteers to park further away from the entrance so that customers can more easily access The Store.
• If you need specific parking accommodations, please contact us beforehand so we can make proper arrangements.

Will there be someone who can verify my volunteer hours? (for school, work, court ordered, etc.)

• Yes! We can provide you with a volunteer verification letter listing your hours served. If you have specific documents that need to be signed, please bring them with you to your shift and we can sign them before you leave. If you need verification after you've already volunteered, please email volunteer@thestore.org and we can assist your further.

Can I bring items to donate when I come to volunteer?

• Generally, no. If you wish to donate items, please email operations@thestore.org for more information. If you'd like to set up a donation drive, please email itemdrive@thestore.org.

Are there physical requirements to volunteer?

• There are no physical requirements to volunteer. However, if you have physical limitations that will prevent you from standing on your feet or lifting heavy objects, please let us know and we can assign you an appropriate volunteer position. Please note that our Restocking opportunity is very physically active and may not be a great fit if you aren't able to lift more than 30 lbs. or work on your feet for 2+ hours at a time. 

Can I take pictures/videos when I'm volunteering?

• You are welcome to take photos or videos while volunteering as long as there are no customers in view. This is out of respect for their privacy as we wish to provide a dignified shopping experience. Please be mindful of those around you. 

Can I use my phone while I'm volunteering?

• If you need to take a phone call or send a text, we ask that you please do so in the volunteer break area or outside. We want you to be present during your shift so that you can better engage with our customers and other volunteers. 

Can I bring a friend or family member with me to volunteer?

• If there are still spots available on the shift, yes! They will still need to sign up for the shift just like you did. If the shift is full, they may add themselves to the waitlist and we will notify them if spots become available. Please do not bring guests who are not signed up to volunteer. Oftentimes if there are extra people volunteering, we run into a "too many cooks in the kitchen" scenario resulting in bored volunteers with nothing to do. If you show up to volunteer but are not signed up, you may be turned away if we aren't in need of extra help.

Can I volunteer with a group?

• Yes! Please visit our group volunteering page for more information.