Birdhouse Farmers Market relies on volunteers to make the market possible!

Without volunteers, we could not support local farmers, increase access to healthy fresh food, or educate the community on the joy and value of shopping and eating locally.

There are many ways to get involved as a volunteer at Birdhouse. In addition to market day opportunities, we have dedicated volunteers working on committees, developing and expanding programming, gathering and analyzing data, and spreading the word to make Birdhouse the best-known, local food, community resource in Richmond.

Volunteer for the In-Person Market

Tuesdays, May–November

Market-day volunteers are always needed! You can sign up for a single week or make it a regular part of your Tuesdays. There is flexibility in the times below. If you can’t get to the market for a certain shift, we’ll work with your schedule!

12:00-1:15pm: Set Up: Help set up tents, tables, and various market materials before vendors arrive. Must be able to lift 30 pounds.

1:00-4:00pm: Gather, Sort, and Aggregate: Assist with finishing set up. Collect orders as vendors drop off to the Welcome Tent. Sort items to prepare for aggregation. Distribute necessary vendor materials for the day. Aggregate orders into customer bags.

2:45pm-6:30pm: Children’s Programming: Man the children’s table near the welcome tent. We will have a craft planned and all materials will be provided. Volunteers should be prepared to work with children/adults of all ages. Wear clothes that can get dirty (paint, glitter, mud, etc.).

2:45pm - 6:30pm: Birdhouse Outreach Tent: Manage the Birdhouse Outreach tent, located in the Midway. Answer customer questions, discuss Birdhouse programs, gather email addresses for the newsletter, donor lists, and potential sponsor lists. Accept donations. Talk all things BFM!

3:00-6:30pm: Communications Helper: Take pictures, videos, and more of the market space to assist with future market communications! This volunteer will upload all materials to a Google Drive folder for future use by Birdhouse (with credit to the creator!).

4:00-7:00pm: Welcome Tent and Market Breakdown: Manage the Welcome Tent, answering questions and distributing SNAP/VFM tokens (training provided). Gather frozen/cold items for individual orders. Give orders to customers. Store tents, tables, and various market materials at market close.

Volunteer for the Online Winter Market

Tuesdays, December–April

12:00-1:00pm: Set Up: Help set up tents and tables to prepare for drop off from vendors. Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds. 2 volunteers needed.

1:00-4:00pm: Gather, Sort, and Aggregate: Collect orders as vendors drop off. Sort items to prepare for aggregation. Aggregate orders into customer bags. Up to 4 volunteers needed.

4:00-6:30pm: Deliver and Cleanup: Gather frozen/cold items for individual orders. Place orders in vehicle. Store tents and tables. Up to 4 volunteers needed.