General Information

  • Volunteer Opportunities / Responsibilities: Building Bridges Across the River offers a range of both short-term and long-term volunteer opportunities designed to engage community members, corporate partners, and individuals in meaningful, hands-on work across our programs.

    Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities:
    Our urban farm network, which includes seven farm sites across Southeast DC, provides consistent opportunities for volunteers to engage in food access and environmental work. Volunteers support planting, harvesting, weeding, and general farm maintenance, as well as preparing produce for distribution. No prior experience is required, though an interest in urban agriculture, food systems, or sustainability is helpful. These opportunities are ideal for individuals or groups seeking recurring engagement, and volunteers often work alongside staff and community members, creating strong opportunities for direct client and community interaction.

    In addition, volunteers support Food & Farm Fridays, a seasonal weekly program that distributes fresh produce and offers food education to residents. Volunteers assist with setup, food distribution, crowd flow, and engagement with participants. They may also help share recipe cards or support demonstrations. This is a highly interactive opportunity, with direct engagement with community members and families, and is well-suited for both one-time and recurring volunteers.

    Signature Event Volunteering:
    Building Bridges hosts seven signature events annually, including large-scale, community-centered gatherings such as festivals, family events, and fundraisers. Volunteers play a critical role in event execution, supporting roles such as event setup and breakdown, registration, guest services, activity facilitation, and food distribution. These opportunities are typically one-day commitments and do not require specialized skills, though strong communication and customer service skills are helpful. Volunteers regularly interact with attendees, helping create a welcoming and inclusive environment.

    Skills & Accessibility:
    Most volunteer opportunities do not require specialized skills, making them accessible to a broad range of participants. However, volunteers with experience in areas such as gardening, event coordination, health and wellness, or community outreach are encouraged to bring those skills into their roles. Group volunteering is also available and frequently utilized by corporate and community partners.

    Across all opportunities, volunteers contribute to advancing food access, community connection, and neighborhood vitality east of the Anacostia River, while gaining meaningful, hands-on experience.
  • Types of Volunteers Needed: individual/adult; individual/college; individual/high school; families with children; adult groups of less than 5; adult groups of 6 or more, including corporate teams
  • Hours Needed: business hours during the week; evenings during the week; daytime on the weekend