Volunteer Training

All volunteers must complete annual training to ensure the highest standards of service and safety at our food pantry. The mandatory courses include Civil Rights, Food Safety, and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). These trainings are essential to our commitment to support and serve our community responsibly. In-person training will be offered throughout the year. You will also find links to optional training (below). 

Mandatory Training:

• CIVIL RIGHTS (pick one)

  • Civil Rights - Full training
    (For volunteers who handle client information and/or interact with clients.) 

  • Civil Rights Training - Limited training
    (For volunteers who do not handle personal information and who infrequently interact with clients.) 

• TEFAP
  
  

• Food Safety
  This training will give you the information you need to safely handle food and prevent foodborne illnesses. 

Optional Training:

• Texas Food Handlers Certification
  This Texas Food Handlers Training Course is a fundamental review of food safety practices for food service employees. Topics include regulations, safe food handling practices, temperature control, food contaminates, and proper hygiene practices. This is OPTIONAL for volunteers but we are making this available to all volunteers to demonstrate our commitment to safe food handling at our food pantry. 

  • You have two options for the Texas Food Handlers Certification:

    • Pay for the course in English or Spanish ($7.50). Submit your receipt and we will reimburse you. [Link to course]

    • Email Vicki and she will send you a link to the pre-paid course: vicki@foodpantry-jdc.org

• Top 8 Food Allergens
  While there are not as many rules and restrictions for us as a food pantry as there are for restaurants, we are required to help our clients avoid foods they are allergic to by including a food label (with ingredients) on every item we distribute. This article will identify the top nine food allergens, signs/symptoms of food allergies, and how to help clients avoid them. A six-minute read. 

• Preventing Cross Contamination While Handling Food
  This article explains the importance of preventing cross-contamination and provides practical strategies to help you minimize the risks.  An eight-minute read. 

• Active Shooter Awareness
  Free 30-minute course on surviving an active shooter event. Learn to recognize the warning signs of a potential shooter, how to react, and how to cooperate with first responders. Mobile-friendly course - take it on your desktop computer, phone, or tablet.