Volunteer!
Volunteers are an essential part of the Hillsdale Farmers’ Market. From serving on the board, setting up market infrastructure, selling tokens at the information booth or helping to run our popular summer events, volunteers are involved in nearly every aspect of the market’s operations.
Volunteering at Hillsdale Farmers’ Market means:
Joining a community of people who care about the quality of their food
Supporting local farmers and food producers
Having fun outdoors
Meeting new people in your community
Learning about food production and preparation
Exposure to community activities and market operations
Helping our market grow and continue to meet the needs of our community
Weekly Volunteer Opportunities:
Volunteers help the market run smoothly by signing up for one of our three volunteer shifts. Some volunteers come nearly every week, others come when they can. We welcome any level of commitment.
Market Set-Up
Help set up tents, tables, chairs, signs and info booth materials from 8:00 am-9:00 am Sunday mornings.
Set-up volunteers like working in the cool of morning, are comfortable lifting moderately heavy objects such as tables, tents and chairs (20-40 lbs) and enjoy the camaraderie of teamwork.
Perks of the job: once everything is assembled and ready to go, be the first to shop the freshly arranged market offerings!
Information Booth
Help sell tokens and market merchandise, answer questions about the market and our vendors, help collect customer counts, cover for vendors who need a break and keep the market tidy and running smoothly. Volunteer shifts at the info booth are divided into two-hour segments: the morning shift runs from 9:00 am-11:00 am and the afternoon shift from 11:00 am-1:00 pm.
Our info booth volunteers enjoy interacting with customers and sharing their enthusiasm for the market and our vendors, can work independently or as a team and are comfortable handling money and our point of sale system. (Note: not all info booth volunteers are required to perform all of the listed duties. Please inquire if you are interested and we’ll find the right fit for you.)
Power of Produce Booth
Power of Produce (POP) is our kids program that aims to teach children about produce, our local food system, and healthy food preparation. Children ages 4 through 12 are eligible to participate in this free program. Upon signing up at the POP booth, each kid will receive a passport which will be stamped after they complete each day’s activity. Volunteer activities include setting up the activity, checking in participants, and helping with the activity.
Perks of the job: Get to know our vendors and regulars! The info booth is a hub of activity and the best place to really get your finger on the pulse of this community gem.
Special Projects
Occasionally we have projects that don’t fall within the market’s hours of operation. These projects include cleaning out our storage truck, fixing broken equipment or promoting the market. If you’d like to be involved but don’t have much time, helping with special projects may be the right fit for you. Please specify your availability and skill set when you contact us and we’ll be in touch!
Volunteer Scheduling
One final note on volunteering at Hillsdale Farmers Market: we compile our volunteer schedule using an online volunteer signup form. Each Tuesday, those on the volunteer email list receive an email with a link to the coming Sunday market. Volunteers select their shift. On the Saturday before the market, the volunteer coordinator sends out the compiled schedule. Can’t work the standard shift? We’re flexible! Just send a message to hillsdalemarketvolunteers@gmail.com with your availability.
If you are interested in volunteering at Hillsdale Farmers’ Market but have questions, just stop by the info booth and speak with market managers Olivia Spitzer and Lacey Waldon, or one of the volunteers working the booth. You can inquire by email too: hillsdalemarketvolunteers@gmail.com.
Ready to sign up?
Just fill out this form to get on our volunteer email list!