Group Volunteer Information

Join the hundreds of volunteers that help feed Milwaukee’s hungry. Volunteers are the backbone of the Gathering. We are serving bag lunches and hot meals to-go and we hope you’ll join us in the fight against hunger in our community.


Volunteer Your Group - Become a Cook Team at The Gathering!

We need cook groups to volunteer to cook at The Gathering on Saturdays, 8:00-10:30am

Cook groups are first to arrive on-site, along with staff, and are responsible for following a recipe provided to cook a hot, nutritious meal for the Milwaukee community.

No “professional” cooking experience is required!

To get started, send an email soulfood@thegatheringwis.org

Any necessary training is provided by The Gathering.


Group Volunteer Opportunities

Bag Lunch Project

Suitable for groups of any size. Groups provide all ingredients and assemble bag lunches for distribution to Gathering guests as they exit our Saturday lunch meal sites.  The next available large scale meal is not until noon Sunday. To sign-up to prepare bag lunches for our Saturday Lunch program please email soulfood@thegatheringwis.org

Bagged Lunch Assembly Description [PDF].

Serve Breakfast

Suitable for groups up to 8. Shifts available Monday-Friday from 8:00-10:30 a.m. at The Gathering meal site at Running Rebels (1300 W Fond Du Lac Ave).

Serving Breakfast Description [PDF]. 

Serve Saturday Lunch (3 locations)

Suitable for groups up to 5, depending on site. Shifts available Saturdays from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the three main Gathering sites.

Serving Saturday Lunch Description [PDF].

Serve Dinner

Suitable for groups up to 5. Shifts available Monday and Wednesday from 4:00-6:30 p.m. at our Ascension Lutheran Church meal site (1236 S Layton Blvd).

Serving Dinner Description [PDF].


Seasonal Volunteer Opportunities

FPPP - Preserve Produce (seasonal project)

Fresh Produce Preservation Project. Suitable for groups up to 5.  Wash, chop, blanch, freeze and can fresh produce for our Fresh Produce Preservation Project (FPPP). Shifts available weekly from August through October. Dates are scheduled seasonally and based on donation delivery.

FPPP Description [PDF].

Beautify Our Meal Sites

Suitable for groups up to 5 people. Help by cleaning a meal site or supplying site decorations. Opportunities available throughout the year subject to need and availability.

Site Cleaning Description [PDF]

Site Decoration Description [PDF].

Cook Saturday Lunch (training provided)

Suitable for groups of 3-6. Shifts available Saturdays from 7:00-10:00 am once every 4-6 weeks at one of our three main lunch locations. Cook teams prepare lunch for 100-300 Gathering guests, depending on the location. Menus, supplies and training provided. Volunteers should be 21+ and willing to commit to one year of service.

Cooking Saturday Lunch Description [PDF].