Community Service Hours

Volunteers are our local heroes who show up to give back to our neighbors.

For those who must complete court-related community service, or required hours for government-funded programs.

Individuals who receive a court order to perform community service, or who must perform community service to qualify for WorkSource or Houston Housing, may complete their hours in a friendly, safe, climate controlled and structured environment at the Houston Food Bank.

*All court-mandated minors must have a parent or guardian present during orientation and while completing a volunteer shift.*

Orientation & Registration

About Orientation:

Orientations for court ordered, SNAP, and Houston Housing Authority service hours are held every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. No sign-up is required to attend orientation.

Location:

Houston Food Bank East Branch
535 Portwall Street
Houston, TX 77029

Orientation Times:

Monday: 8:30am – 11:30am

Tuesday: 8:30am – 11:30am / 1:30pm – 3:30pm

Wednesday: 8:30am – 11:30am

Thursday: 8:30am – 11:30am

Friday: 8:30am – 11:30am

Saturday: 8:30am – 11:30am

*Note that some days and times have recently changed.

Closed Shifts / Orientations:

Wednesday, November 26th – We will not have orientation and there will be no 6:00 p.m. shift.

Thursday, November 27th – We will not have any Blue Badge shifts/orientation.

Friday, November 28th – We will not have orientation and there will be no 6:00 p.m. shift.

December 22nd through January 2nd – We will not have any orientations.

Wednesday, December 24th – Closed. We will not have any Blue Badge shifts/orientation.

Thursday, December 25th – We will not have any Blue Badge shifts/orientation.

Wednesday, December 31st – We will not have orientation and there will be no 6:00 p.m. shift.

Thursday, January 1st – Closed. We will not have any Blue Badge shifts/orientation.

Required Pieces of Information:

For orientation, you will need 2 required pieces of information:

  1. Valid (Hard/Paper/Email copy) DL or ID. Passport or Probationer’s Cards are accepted also.
  2. Documentation (Paper/Email copy) stating your offense/charge. (SNAP Benefits/Houston Housing require a referral letter from the workforce or the Houston Housing Authority.) Paperwork has to be current, either from this month or the previous month.

Required documentation can be sent to bluebadges@houstonfoodbank.org during the week of your orientation session only. We currently do not archive submitted emails and will not be able to retrieve your documentation at a later time.

To sign up for the Blue Badge Volunteer program:

  • Visit our Houston Food Bank East Branch location (535 Portwall St. 77029) during one of the orientation times.
    • Bring all related paperwork and a valid ID.
  • Attend the orientation session.
    • Complete the Blue Badge Volunteer application form.
    • You will be given detailed information on volunteering, verifying hours, and monthly reporting at that session.
    • The entire registration process will take 45 minutes – 1 hour.

NOTE: Volunteers 16-18 years old that have required service hours must have a parent or guardian attend the orientation session with them and complete parent/guardian paperwork. Parents are also required to have a valid ID. Volunteers 15 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and work alongside the minor.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I need to be at the Food Bank at 8:30 a.m.?

No, but the cut-off time for orientation applicants is 11:30 a.m. Please be prepared to stay anywhere from 30 – 45 minutes.

Do orientation hours count towards my community service hours?

No, the time you spend in orientation will not go towards your service hours.

How do I get more information on Orientation or Required Service Hours?

Email bluebadges@houstonfoodbank.org

Blue Badge Shifts

Blue Badge Volunteer Shifts

First Shift Second Shift Third Shift
Start/End Start (Late After)/End Start (Late After)/End
Monday 7:30am – 12:00pm 1:00pm/1:15pm – 4:00pm 6:00pm/6:15pm – 9:00pm
Tuesday 7:30am – 12:00pm 1:00pm/1:15pm – 4:00pm 6:00pm/6:15pm – 9:00pm
Wednesday 7:30am – 12:00pm 1:00pm/1:15pm – 4:00pm 6:00pm/6:15pm – 9:00pm
Thursday 7:30am – 12:00pm 1:00pm/1:15pm – 4:00pm 6:00pm/6:15pm – 9:00pm
Friday 7:30am – 12:00pm 1:00pm/1:15pm – 4:00pm 6:00pm/6:15pm – 9:00pm
Saturday 7:30am – 12:00pm 1:00pm/1:15pm – 4:00pm CLOSED
Sunday 8:00am – 12:00pm CLOSED CLOSED
*15 min grace *15 min grace

Volunteer Dress Code

For Your Safety 

  • Wear closed-toe and closed-heel shoes that fully cover your feet. (Crocs, slides, house slippers, or sandals are not permitted.)
  • Wear shirts with sleeves and shirts that appropriately cover midriffs — Tank tops, spaghetti strap shirts, cropped shirts and muscle shirts may not provide adequate protection while working in a warehouse environment.
  • Choose appropriate bottoms such as pants, sweatpants, knee-length shorts, or capris for your protection. Ripped and distressed jeans are not permitted. Skin left exposed can pose a risk to your safety.
  • Please avoid skirts or dresses for safety reasons. To request a religious exemption, please reach out to Volunteer Services staff.
  • Opt for well-fitting clothing, avoid spandex and/or tights and leggings — nothing too loose or dangling for safety near machinery.
  • Sunglasses should not be worn during volunteer shifts for your safety.
  • Refrain from explicit phrases or political messages on clothing — for your comfort and the comfort of your fellow volunteers and neighbors.
  • Jewelry is not permitted in some project areas — it can get caught on items or fall into food. Please leave all jewelry at home.