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He kaiāwhina ahau · Volunteer

Help turn leftovers into lifelines for whānau.

Every day in Avondale we sort, cook and share over 2,400 kilos of rescued kai. Whether you’re a pro in the kitchen or you just like to eat — we’d love to have you at our tables.

Browse open shifts →I’m bringing a team
est.
2011
place
Tāmaki Makaurau
crew
2,400 kg of kai / day
Volunteers sorting rescued kai at the Fair Food warehouse

The kai table

Tuesday, 11:42am

Volunteers packing kai boxes ready for whānau

Pack & share

Avondale warehouse

Cooks preparing a meal in the Conscious Kitchen

Conscious Kitchen

Every Wed · 9am

Mā tātou anō tātou e manaakiFeeding people, not landfillSince 2011Avondale, Tāmaki MakaurauOpen to every bodyPowered by 1,400+ volunteersMā tātou anō tātou e manaakiFeeding people, not landfillSince 2011Avondale, Tāmaki MakaurauOpen to every bodyPowered by 1,400+ volunteersMā tātou anō tātou e manaakiFeeding people, not landfillSince 2011Avondale, Tāmaki MakaurauOpen to every bodyPowered by 1,400+ volunteers

Five ways to roll up your sleeves

Find a place that fits the day you’ve got.

Most volunteer mahi happens at our home base in Avondale. Choose a programme below to see open shifts.

Sort, pack, share01
Volunteers packing rescued kai into boxes

Pack Kai Boxes

Help sort fresh fruit, vegetables and pantry goods rescued from across Tāmaki Makaurau, then pack them into kai boxes that go straight to whānau, foodbanks and community groups the same day.

42 upcoming shifts→
Cook with us02
Cooks preparing a meal in the Conscious Kitchen

Conscious Kitchen

Roll up your sleeves with our chefs to turn surplus ingredients into beautiful meals. Whether you're a pro in the kitchen or just like to eat, there's a place for you at the bench.

18 upcoming shifts→
Nine weeks, real work, real skills03
Trainees learning kitchen and food-handling skills

Work Skills Programme

A nine-week programme for rangatahi and adults building confidence and a CV. One day a week, 10am–3pm, working alongside our team in the warehouse and kitchen with a hospitality skills option on Fridays.

24 upcoming shifts→
Built for every body04
Volunteers from the inclusive programme working together

Inclusive Volunteering

We modify tasks, allow support people to come along, and welcome groups like the Young Onset Dementia Collective every Monday. Tell us what you need on the form — there's nearly always a way.

12 upcoming shifts→
Corporate volunteering05
A corporate team volunteering at the warehouse

Bring Your Team

Over 150 companies have rolled their sleeves up with us. Half-day team experiences combining the warehouse and kitchen, with a debrief over kai. Email us to plan your day.

Get in touch →→
4.7M
kg of kai rescued
since 2011
10.6M
meals shared
with whānau
12,655
tonnes of CO₂
kept from landfill
2,400+
kg every day
out the door

Built for every body

Inclusive volunteering, in practice — not just on the website.

We modify tasks, allow support people to come along, and welcome groups like the Young Onset Dementia Collective every Monday. Tell us what you need on the form. There’s nearly always a way.

See inclusive programmes →
  • ✓Modified tasks
  • ✓Bring a support person
  • ✓Wheelchair accessible
  • ✓Quiet shift options
  • ✓Te reo welcome
  • ✓Group bookings
  • ✓Sensory-aware
  • ✓First-timers

Pātai

Things people ask before their first shift.

Still got pātai? Flick us an email at kiaora@fairfood.org.nz.

Nau mai, haere mai

Ready to come down to the kai table?

Pick a shift that suits, register in 30 seconds, and you’ll get a confirmation with everything you need to know.

See open shifts →Email us