We are looking for people passionate about supporting our local food community! Our goal is to connect our community with great local food. It’s more important than ever to support small businesses and sustainable local agriculture.
Volunteers are the backbone of the Withrow Park Farmers’ Market and your hard work and dedication, along with your enthusiastic attitude, will ensure we have an organized, safe and inclusive outdoor farmers’ market.
To ensure the effective operations of the Withrow Park Farmers’ Market we ask that our volunteers be comfortable complying with the following procedures:
Volunteers must comply with:
- Being conscientious and courteous at all times
- Following public health protocols that may be in place (physical distancing, mask, hand washing/sanitizing etc.)
- Being a team player and following guidance from the Volunteer Coordinator and Market Manager
Current Volunteer Opportunities
We have a number of volunteer roles that are listed here and described in more detail below:
- Parking Attendant
- Pitch and Strike Crew
- Sustainability Ambassador
- Kids’ Zone
- Data Collection
- Special Events
Parking Attendant (Shifts: 7am to 9am and/or 1pm to 2:30pm)
Parking attendant shifts are short, but this is one of our most important roles! This role is best suited for someone 18 years of age and older. Bonus if you have experience driving!
- Directing the arrival of our vendors during set-up and/or load-out
- Directing vendors to the appropriate parking and unloading areas and provide them with a parking pass to display in their window
- Setting up pylons and signage
- Allowing only vendors into designated parking spots
- Enforcing parking plans established by our parking permit
Pitch and Strike Crew (Set-up/Take down) (Shifts: 7am to 8:30am for setup and/or 1pm to 2:30pm for take down)
A self-explanatory but essential part of our volunteer team! We couldn’t have a well-organized market without the proper set-up and takedown. Help us transform an empty field into a safe marketplace!
- Distribute and set up the needed tables and tents
- Return tables, tents, and materials to storage at end of market
- Put out and displaying signage and create chalkboards
- Physical ability to move event supplies with a dollie and lift up to 30lbs
Sustainability Ambassador (8am to 11am and/or 11am to 2pm)
The Sustainability Ambassador tal role in helping the market achieve its sustainability goals by maintaining the information booth, overseeing our reusable dishware program and the Seed Library.
- Learn how the Muuse dishware program works and explain and encourage customer adoption
- Distribute and replenish clean dishware to prepared food vendors at the Market
- Keep the Seed Library organized and tidy and maintain a tidy area for used dishes and compost drop off. No dishwashing required!
- Receive seed donations from community members and ensure they are labelled and packaged correctly
- Engage in conversations and answer basic questions about the market and sustainability initiatives
Kids Zone Attendant (9:30am to 11:30am and/or 11:30am to 1:30pm)
The Kids Zone involves leading and supporting kids crafts during the market. This role is best suited if you are a creative person and love working with children!
- Distribute and set-up craft materials for the kids zone starting at 10 am
- Pack up any remaining craft materials and take-down equipment at the end of the market
- Supervise, Interact with, and support children completing the crafts or activities.
Data Collection (12:00pm – 1:00pm)
Nearing the end of the market every Saturday, the data collection volunteer will collect sales information from the vendors.
- Interact with the vendors to collect their sales data for that day
- Record the data, ensuring it is kept organized and clear
- Maintain privacy of the data collected
- Present the data to the market manager after it has been collected from all vendors
Special Events
We’re looking forward to welcoming back some of our special pop-up activities this summer like community swapping events. We’ll need extra helping hands on these particular days!
HOW TO APPLY
Volunteers should be able to commit to a minimum of 3-5 market days between June to August. Volunteer hours for high school students will only be provided to volunteers who have contributed a minimum of 9 hours (approx 3 shifts).
Thank you for helping to make this year’s farmers’ market a success!
