Volunteer Opportunities

There are many ways you can help.

If you want to work behind the scenes, for example in our administrative office please contact us to discuss opportunities. We are especially interested in volunteers who have skills such as document organizing, graphic design, inventory control or other work a small organization like the NLCMC needs help with. If this sounds like you, please reach out and share your interest with us.

Of course we have a need for ongoing volunteers for our meal service. These jobs also afford a chance to work with the the kitchen "team" and the public. A little bit more detail as follows:

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Meal Preparation

This includes for example, turning donations of fresh vegetables into part of a meal, buttering bread for a dinner side, or portioning out desserts.

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To Go - Meal Packing

Help us get meals out the door to individuals, families and partner organizations

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Clean-up and Dish Washing

An essential part of every meal served

Volunteer Forms

If you are a current volunteer at the NLCMC please follow the link below to access the Volunteer Registration Form, Volunteer Handbook, and Liability Waiver

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Let us know you're interested in learning more about volunteering, and we'll be in touch.

We would love to hear from you!

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Volunteer of the Month

June 2024

June Volunteers of the Month

Our June volunteers of the month are the group organized by Donna Kitlinski that spends Saturday mornings picking up surplus food from Costco, delivering it to the Meal Center, helping to put it away, and inventorying it. This is a very dedicated group that uses their pickup trucks and SUVs to transport food from East Lyme to the Meal Center. Donna has a very organized schedule so that most people only have to participate 2 Saturdays/month. The food donation from Costco is made possible through CT Food Share.

Donna’s group is made of the following generous volunteers (many of whom are also long-time kitchen volunteers): Laureen Pierandi, Terry McCarthy, Josh Martin, Barbara Morgan, Nancy and GeorgeHenry, Chris Johnson, and Beth and Kris Lambert. Also in the photo is ChefEric King who has met the volunteers at the Meal Center and assisted with the unloading.

The group’s underlying philosophy is that they hate to see food waste and are happy to redistribute unsold food items to those less fortunate through the Meal Center. There are usually 700-800 pounds of food donated, including meats, fruits, vegetables, and baked goods. Thank you to the dedicated Saturday morning Costco group for your commitment to the MealCenter.

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From Our volunteers

Why We Volunteer

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I volunteer because the people that come to the meal center are having rough times, and it can happen to anyone. I feel it is important to help people who are less fortunate, and it is really important to treat people with dignity. We are not just feeding them. I get the satisfaction of knowing I am helping people.

TERRIE

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I volunteer because I can. I had a life and a career where I was fortunate to do well. Now that I am retired I want to spend my time giving a step up in the simple form of a meal to someone who did not have all the advantages I have had in my life.

JIM

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I volunteer because it is a way of giving back to all people who helped me throughout the course of my life. I do it to give back, to pay it forward. Also, I do get personal fulfillment that is wonderful. I feel good about volunteering.

ROBERT

Volunteer