VOLUNTEER
Our mission is to serve the hungry of Tulsa every day and volunteers are at the heart of that mission. When you stock pantry shelves, serve a hot meal, or help behind the scenes, your time directly supports our Oklahoma neighbors facing food insecurity. There’s a place for everyone to make a difference here — and we’d love for you to join us.
Current Volunteer Opportunities:
🍽 Community Meal Volunteer - Mornings, 7 Days a Week
What you’ll do:
Volunteers will assist on the serving line, plating breakfast and lunch for our guests. Most importantly, you’ll help create a warm and welcoming experience for every guest.
The volunteer age limit for this shift is 13 and up, with all minors ages 13 - 15 needing a parent or guardian (21+) accompanying them.
🍽 Pantry Prep Volunteer - Mornings, 7 Days a Week
What you’ll do:
Volunteers will help unbox, sort, and organize food items to set up our shopping-style pantry. You may also help pack outreach bags, food staple bags, and kids packs.
The volunteer age limit for this shift is 10 and up, with all minors ages 10 -15 needing a parent or guardian (21+) accompanying them.
🍽 Grocery Pantry Volunteer - Afternoons: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Select Saturdays (HIGH NEED)
What you’ll do:
Volunteers will assist pantry guests as they shop our grocery pantry, helping them find and choose items, while offering general support to both guests and Pantry staff.
The volunteer age limit for this shift is 13 and up, with all minors ages 13 - 15 needing a parent or guardian (21+) accompanying them.
🍽 Agency Pantry Volunteer - Tuesday, Thursday (HIGH NEED)
What you’ll do:
Volunteers will help assemble and load 15-20 pound food boxes that caseworkers and partner organizations have ordered to pick up and distribute to their clients.
The volunteer age limit for this shift is 10 and up, with all minors ages 10 - 15 needing a parent or guardian (21+) accompanying them.
🍽 Family Night - Select Fridays 5:30PM - 7PM
What you’ll do:
Iron Gate’s Family Night is a special opportunity for families to serve together — kids of any age welcome! From 5:30–7:00pm, families will rotate through hands-on service stations designed just for little hands and big hearts. Children can help pack Kid Packs and Outreach bags, color placemats for our Community Meal guests, and stock shelves in our Grocery Pantry for the next morning.
Fill out a Volunteer Form below to get started!
Click below to fill out a volunteer application:
Individual Volunteers
Group Volunteers
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Iron Gate! Our volunteer coordinator will be in touch with next steps soon.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: How old do I need to be to volunteer?
To volunteer for our Community Meal or Grocery Pantry shifts, volunteers must be at least 13 years old.
To volunteer for our Pantry Prep or Agency Pantry shifts, volunteers must be at least 10 years old.
Volunteers ages 10 – 15 must have a parent or guardian (21+) serving alongside them.
Q: What should I wear when volunteering?
For safety and comfort, we ask that volunteers follow a few basic guidelines:
Please tie back hair that is shoulder-length or longer
Wear closed-toe shoes
Avoid wearing sleeveless shirts/tank tops and shorts
If you’re feeling unwell, please stay home and let us know. There will always be another opportunity to serve, and we want to keep everyone in our community healthy.
Q: Are there any physical requirements for volunteering?
Some of our volunteer roles are active and require extended periods of standing:
Community Meal Service: Involves prolonged standing and can be warm due to food warmers and kitchen equipment.
Pantry Prep + Grocery Pantry: Requires continuous standing and light movement throughout the shift.
Agency Pantry: Involves standing as well as lifting boxes up to 20 pounds.
If you have physical limitations or need accommodations, please reach out before signing up. We’re happy to help you find a role that works for you whenever possible.
Q: I’ve volunteered before. Am I able to just show up when I’m available?
While we would love to have you back, all volunteers must sign up in advance of arriving. Not only does this give our staff time to correctly prepare various work areas/projects, it also ensures we are receiving up-to-date emergency contact information and a signed waiver.
If there are no available spots for the day or shift you would like to volunteer for, please check our calendar for another day to serve.
Q: I’d like to bring a group. How many people can volunteer together?
We would love to host your group and offer different capacities depending on the activity:
Community Meal Service: Up to 8 volunteers
Preparing Pantry: Up to 20 volunteers
Grocery Pantry: Up to 25 volunteers
Agency Pantry: Up to 12 volunteers
If your group is larger than these limits, we’re happy to talk through options or help you split into multiple service dates. If you would like to sign up a group under age 10, please email Rebekah Francois directly.
Q: Can I complete court-ordered community service hours at Iron Gate?
No. At this time, Iron Gate does not sign off on court-ordered community service hours.
Q: Can I volunteer on a holiday?
Holidays are a special time at Iron Gate, and many major holidays are sponsored by long-standing community partners. Because of this, volunteer spots on those days are often limited.
We would love to have you serve during the week of a holiday or at another time of year when the need is just as great. If your heart is set on serving specifically on a holiday, you may also consider checking with other local organizations that may have openings.
For any additional questions or concerns, please reach out to Rebekah Francois by emailing rfrancois@irongatetulsa.org or by calling (918) 879-1706.