VeggieRx Program: VeggieRx is HDFFA’s free fresh produce prescription program that improves healthy eating habits for individuals experiencing food insecurity and diagnosed with one or more diet-modifiable diseases. Participants receive fresh locally grown produce, nutrition education, and one-on-one support from HDFFA’s Registered Nutritionist. 

Volunteer Positions Available: 

• Market Assistant: Wednesdays Downtown Bend at Brooks Alley, June 7th – October 18th from 11-3 pm
• Market Assistant (Spanish Speaking): Wednesdays Downtown Bend at Brooks Alley, June 7th – October 18th from 11-3 pm
• On-call Assistant: Help print, package boxes, deliver, pick-up, Wednesdays and/or Thursdays June 7th – October 18th (gas stipend available if needed)

During the VeggieRx season, participants work closely with our VeggieRx Program Manager to learn how to purchase, prepare, and cook fresh food. Volunteers will assist the Program Manager with: manning the market booth, market preparation tasks, helping participants learn the importance of incorporating vegetables and fruit into their diet, and helping participants to access additional nutrition education resources. 

Volunteer Resources Provided: Orientation to program and on-site training with the VeggieRx Program Manager, nutrition education including weekly lesson materials, and additional resources/program promotional materials to provide to participants. 

How the program works: Patients are referred to our VeggieRx Program Manager by local care providers if the individual is 18 years or older, screens positive for food insecurity, and has one or more diet-modifiable diseases. Potential participants then contact our VeggieRx Program Manager to determine if they are a good fit for the program. Enrollment begins March 1st and the program begins June 7th and goes through October 18th. The participant will be placed either into a cohort that receives 10 consecutive weeks of free CSA boxes or 10 consecutive weeks of vouchers to use at the Bend Farmer’s Market. Vouchers are obtained and redeemed at the Bend Farmers Market. 

*Note: HDFFA does not reimburse expenses incurred by volunteers
(food, parking fees, tickets, etc.) 

Contact Kelly Moffatt for more information and to sign up for available volunteer opportunities.

HDFFA’s local fresh food drive, Grow & Give, is seeking market volunteers to assist HDFFA market staff at the end of the Bend and Northwest Crossing Farmers Markets to collect, weigh and potentially transport market produce to cold storage a few miles away. Tasks include helping take down the market booth, weighing and recording food donations, engaging with market patrons about HDFFAs mission, assisting in running interactive activities, and lifting objects of weighing up to 50 pounds. 

Time Commitment and Location: Farmers Market volunteers are expected to commit to a minimum of 3 shifts throughout the season due to the need for job-specific training and volunteer consistency. Each market shift can be expected to last about 1 – 2 hours each. 

• The Bend Farmers Market
  • location: 835 NW Wall St, Bend, OR 97701
• The Northwest Crossing Farmers Market
  • location: NW Crossing Dr, Bend, OR 97703

All of the markets are closed for the season! We had an amazing 2022 season with all of you who volunteered at the market with us. We look forward to beginning our 2023 market season in May of next year.

Want to haul fresh veggies around?  We are seeking on-call volunteers with flexible schedules to transport donated fruits and vegetables from point A to point B throughout Central Oregon. Pickups may be sporadic and short notice, so flexible availability is important. Your own vehicle is required for this volunteer opportunity. Driving routes may resemble a schedule like picking up vegetables on several Tuesdays throughout the season from a farm in Bend and dropping them off at NeighborImpact Food Bank in Redmond.

If you are interested, be sure to check “Veggie Hauler” on your volunteer form.

If you have already filled out a volunteer form and want to join in on this new opportunity, email abigail@hdffa.org.

Time Commitment and Location: 

• 1-4 hours per month depending on the schedule of the volunteer and the availability of produce needing to be transported.
• Locations for produce pick up and drop off are in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties.

We are always in need of various types of support that will help us run the organization. This is a great way to volunteer a little bit of time or consistently throughout the year. Support tasks for volunteers may include:

• Farm and Ranch Directory distribution
• General office or technical support
• Take-home volunteer projects.

General/Project Support volunteer opportunities will be emailed out as they arise based on the interests you selected on your volunteer form.

Time Commitment and Location: 

• Average of 1-3 hours per volunteer opportunity, and several support opportunities may be spread out over a longer period of time.
• Most general tasks will take place in the HDFFA office which is located at 354 NE Greenwood Ave #205, Bend, OR 97701, or in the communities of Crook, Jefferson, and Deschutes counties. 

We believe that community members who have a passion for our work, and/or individuals who have experienced our program(s) should have the opportunity to become leaders.  We encourage members who are new to board service to apply to be on our Board. 

Time Commitment and Location: 

• Serve a 2-year term
• Average of 5-10 hours per month which includes monthly Board meetings, being on a committee and participating in fundraising.

We believe that individuals participating in our programs and community members interested in improving food security and farm and ranch viability should have the opportunity to provide feedback and become leaders in our work.  With these values in mind, we invite community members to participate in our Food Security Advisory Committee or Agricultural Advisory Committee to help inform our current work, and to build the leadership capacity for the future of farming, ranching, and food access in Central Oregon. 

For more information about our committees, please visit the pages below: