Time out of the office in our FareShare kitchen is a fantastic investment in culture, relationships and team-building.
Bond with your team and cook for good
FareShare offers a unique and meaningful corporate volunteering experience for businesses and other organisations wanting to spend time together making a difference.
Over the course of a half-day or evening shift in Australia’s largest charity kitchen in Abbotsford, groups can expect to prepare, cook, pack and contribute towards thousands of free, nutritious meals for people who are doing it tough. These may include people sleeping rough, women and children escaping domestic violence, and families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
This unique, team-building experience creates a powerful opportunity to enhance culture, while making a very tangible difference.
Groups are guided by experienced chefs and may even pick up cooking skills as they dice meat, chop vegetables and pack meals.
Feedback has been glowing. Many corporate volunteers have gone on to join the FareShare community as regular volunteers. Importantly, everyone leaves our kitchen feeling more connected with each other and knowing they have improved the lives of others.
Food safety is paramount to FareShare. We adhere to local and national food safety guidelines and are fully compliant with occupational health and safety regulations.
Our kitchens are air conditioned for both food safety and volunteer comfort.
Frequently Asked Questions
The expanded FareShare Abbotsford kitchen provides the perfect setting for employees to interact with colleagues across departments and levels, while making a tangible difference. It’s a great way to build team unity and relationships with clients away from the workplace. No special skills are required and everyone participates on an equal basis.
Supervised by our friendly chefs and kitchen supervisors, groups spend a shift together undertaking a variety of kitchen tasks such as preparing and processing freshly harvested veggies and assembling and packing single-serve and family meals for people doing it tough.
Your group of volunteers will contribute to thousands of meals cooked and packed and destined to nourish people facing hardship.
Corporate volunteering shifts will be held on:
- Monday to Thursday afternoons 1:15-5pm
- Thursday evenings 6:15-8:30pm
- Friday mornings 9am-12:30pm
- Friday afternoons (packing shift) 1:30-4pm
Please note: Mon-Thu morning shifts (9am-12:30pm) are also available during school holidays.
Kitchen crews can be from a minimum of eight volunteers up to a maximum of 20 volunteers. For smaller or larger groups, please email corporatevolunteering@secondbite.org.
As a charity, FareShare asks for a financial contribution to help us cover our costs.
For our regular 3.5 hour daytime meal production shift, the financial contribution per group of 8-10 volunteers is $1,650 plus GST. For a group of 11-20 volunteers, the financial contribution is $3,300 plus GST.
For our Friday afternoon meal-packing shifts, the financial contribution per group of 8-10 volunteers is $1,450 plus GST. For a group of 11-20 volunteers, the financial contribution is $2,900 plus GST.
We may be able to accommodate a smaller or larger group, please contact us at corporatevolunteering@secondbite.org.
FareShare does on occasion accept in kind payment for corporate shifts, usually in the form of food, other goods or services, or the provision of skilled volunteers and general expertise. If you feel your organisation has something to offer in this respect, please contact us at corporatevolunteering@secondbite.org.
As a HACCP accredited, food safe kitchen, we have a dress code and will provide you with aprons and hairnets on the day.
Dress Code:
- Flat, closed-in shoes with non-slip soles (sneakers/trainers or work boots are ideal).
- Clothing: in winter, hoodies and scarves are not allowed. In summer, shirts must have sleeves – the kitchen is an armpit free zone!
- Jewellery – remove all watches, bracelets, dangly earrings and rings. Please let us know on the day if you have any questions surrounding jewellery or piercings.
- Mobile phones are not allowed in the kitchen.
More detailed info will be provided to volunteers prior to their shift.
Should you wish to cancel or reschedule your shift, you can do so up to 30 days prior to your session date for a full refund. If you cancel between 14 days-30 days before your shift, we may apply a 50% cancellation fee. We do not offer refunds for shifts cancelled within 14 days of your designated shift date.
All volunteers must be 100% healthy to volunteer at FareShare.
We will do our utmost to ensure your safety while you are on our premises by maintaining a clean and sanitary work environment.
