Frequently Asked Questions

  • You can check our Bloomerang Volunteer website for all current opportunities. We also typically send weekly emails with available volunteer shifts, and additional emails may be sent if spots need to be filled. To receive these updates or view current opportunities, please sign up through Bloomerang Volunteer.

  • Regular volunteer opportunities are posted two months at a time, usually about  2 weeks before the first month begins. Special event opportunities are added throughout the year.

  • Yes! We offer several weekend opportunities, including:

    Regular Opportunity

    • Food Pantry – Ages 16+, Sundays, 9:45 AM–12:00 PM

    Special Weekend Events (varies by year):

    • Family Picnic – July (Family-friendly; some roles ages 12+)

    • Adopt a Student – August

    • Trunk or Treat – October (Family-friendly)

    • Thanksgiving Drive – November

    • Holiday Match – December (Family-friendly)

  • We understand that unexpected situations, including emergencies and illnesses, can arise. However, volunteer shifts are scheduled based on the needs of the families we serve, and we rely on each volunteer to honor the shifts they select.

    👥 Last-minute cancellations and no-shows can leave us without enough help to properly serve our families.

    📅 Cancellation Notice Policy

    If you are unable to attend a scheduled shift, please provide at least 24 hours’ notice whenever possible. This gives us time to contact another volunteer and try to fill your spot.

    🚨 Last-Minute Cancellations, Emergencies, or Illness

    If you need to cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice, please:

    1️⃣ Remove yourself from the shift as soon as possible.

    2️⃣ Email volunteercoordinator@families4families.com and provide reason you are unable to attend.

    📧 If you cannot remove yourself from the shift, please make every effort to email us before the shift begins. If an emergency or illness prevents you from contacting us beforehand, please email us afterward so we know the reason for your absence.

    ⚠️ Repeated Cancellations or No-Shows

    Volunteers who miss a scheduled shift or cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice three or more times may have their ability to sign up for future opportunities suspended or may be removed from our volunteer list.

    💙 Emergencies and illnesses will be taken into consideration, but volunteers are still expected to notify us as soon as reasonably possible.

    📲 Managing Your Volunteer Schedule

    To make managing your schedule easier, we send:

    ✅ 72-Hour Shift Confirmation

    📨 Three days before your shift, you will receive an email asking you to confirm or decline your attendance.

    ❌ If you select Decline, you will automatically be removed from the shift.

    🔔 24-Hour Shift Reminder

    🕒 You will also receive a reminder one day before your scheduled shift.

    At that point, your shift is less than 24 hours away. If you can no longer attend, please remove yourself from the shift and email volunteercoordinator@families4families.com as soon as possible.

    💛 We truly appreciate the time and support each volunteer gives to Families for Families. Following this policy helps us plan appropriately and continue providing dependable service to the families who count on us.

  • Please provide at least 24 hours’ notice when canceling a volunteer shift. Missing three shifts without notice or canceling at the last minute three or more times may affect your ability to sign up for future opportunities.

    ✅ If You Received the 72-Hour Confirmation Email

    Simply click Decline in the email. You will automatically be removed from the shift.

    ⏰ If Your Shift Is Less Than 24 Hours Away

    —or you did not receive the 72-hour email—

    1️⃣ Remove yourself from the shift using the instructions below.

    2️⃣ Email volunteercoordinator@families4families.com and include the reason you are unable to attend.

    If you cannot remove yourself from the shift, please make every effort to email us before the shift begins. If an emergency or illness prevents you from contacting us beforehand, please email us afterward so we know the reason for your absence.

    💛 How to Remove Yourself from a Shift

    💻 On the Website

    🌐 Go to your Bloomerang Volunteer homepage.
    📋 Open the My Shifts tile.
    🔎 Find the shift you are signed up for.
    ❌ Click the red X or trash can icon.
    ✅ Confirm that you would like to be removed.

    📱 On the Mobile App

    📲 Open the app and go to My Shifts.
    🗓️ Select your scheduled shift.
    ➖ Choose Remove from Shift.
    ✅ Confirm the removal.

    💙 That’s it! Once you remove yourself, your spot will become available for another volunteer.

  • Yes, though opportunities for children 15 and under are limited. In addition to the opportunities listed below, children, and their families or groups can get involved by organizing drives for needed items, more information coming soon.  

    • Under 12: Limited family opportunities; must be accompanied by an adult (Family Picnic, Trunk or Treat, Holiday Match)

    • Ages 12–13: Family opportunities plus limited event roles (Family Picnic, Adopt a Student, Trunk or Treat, Holiday Match)

    • Ages 14–15: Limited opportunities (Furnishing Great Starts*; Family Picnic, Trunk or Treat, Thanksgiving, Holiday Match)

    • Ages 16–17: Most volunteer opportunities are available

    *Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.

  • Yes. Children should have their own accounts, and the online waiver must be signed by a legal guardian. This also ensures volunteer hours are properly recorded for confirmation, college, or National Honor Society credit.

    For family-friendly events where hours do not need to be tracked, a separate account is not required.

  • Yes! You can set up an account for your child using your email. Here’s how:

    Using One Email for Multiple Volunteers

    • Requirement: Each Bloomerang Volunteer account needs a unique email.

    • Password: Each account has its own password, even if emails are shared.

    • Solution for shared emails: Use the “+name” trick to track individuals separately.

    Example:
     Original email: Cartoonbunny@bloomerang.com

    This allows multiple people to share a single email while keeping their volunteer records and passwords separate.

  • Thank you so much for offering to help. Unfortunately, arriving late for a Food Pantry shift isn’t something we’re able to accommodate, as we’re unable to stop and train volunteers once the pantry is in full operation.

  • Volunteer hours are tracked by checking in upon arrival. The system will automatically check you out.

    If you need hours for confirmation, NHS, or college credit, please review your account often to ensure accuracy.

  • All volunteers are asked to check in upon arrival. This ensures your hours are properly recorded.

    Please note: If you do not check in, you will not receive credit for your volunteer hours.

    Two easy ways to check in:

    Kiosk Check-In (Easiest)

    Bloomerang Volunteer App Check-In (App will send you a reminder upon arrival)

    Go here for further shift check-in instructions.

    1. Log in to Bloomerang Volunteer 

    2. Click the person icon (top right)

    3. Select My Hours Worked

    Questions? Email volunteercoordinator@families4families.com.

  • To get started with organizing a collection drive please email our Group Coordinator, Keri-Ann Cavalieri at keri-ann.cavalieri@families4families.com.

  • Email volunteercoordinator@families4families.com to request a Community Service Verification Letter..

    • Please allow up to 72 hours for processing

    • If you have a specific form, include it in your email or arrange a time to stop by for an in-person signature

  • If you would like to coordinate a group volunteer event, please contact our Group Coordinator, Keri-Ann Cavalieri at keri-ann.cavalieri@families4families.com.