Food ShelfBefore Opening
Before Opening — Arrival & Setup
This page walks you through what to do when you arrive before the food shelf opens. Take it one section at a time. Ask questions early. You are not expected to rush.
Timing: Arrive when Planning Center indicates and follow any updates from your Team Lead.
Be Known. Find Hope. Love Our City.
1) Arrive & Get Inside
- Park in the lot or on the street as desired
- Leave the closest spots open for loading and unloading if possible
- Customers enter through Door D
- If Door D is locked, contact your Team Lead to be let in
- Meet in the lower level in front of the pantry doors
2) Pull Cold Items (Order Matters)
Vegetables are staged on top of the freezer that holds bread and desserts. Always remove frozen items first.
- Pull bread and desserts out of the freezer
- Pull vegetables out of the refrigerator
3) Veggie Check (Quality & Care)
As you set vegetables out, take a moment to make sure what we’re offering is good and usable. This protects the dignity of our guests and the quality of the food shelf.
- Look through vegetables as you place them out
- Remove any spoiled, moldy, or clearly unusable items
- If unsure about an item, set it aside and ask the Team Lead
Posture to remember:
We offer food the same way we would want it offered to us.
4) Stock & Prepare
- Stock shelves if new donations have arrived
- Restock regular pantry items as needed
- Prepare double-bagged paper bags
5) Set Out iPads
- Place iPads at the logging stations
- Open the Food Pantry Check-In app
- Confirm the app is ready before guests arrive
6) First-Timer Reminders
- There is no wrong way to serve
- It’s okay to give an extra when the Spirit leads you
- When unsure, pause and ask your Team Lead
Ready to Open Check
- Cold items are staged and checked
- Shelves are stocked
- Paper bags are ready
- iPads are ready
- You know who your Team Lead is