You will generally hear about volunteer opportunities at least once or twice a month, especially in the days leading up to a market. However, there is no fixed communication schedule.

Please note that we do not respond to submissions individually. Instead, we send out blasts to all our registered volunteers as needed. We will have an additional sign-up/confirmation process to confirm your volunteer commitment at a given market.

No; you can volunteer at as many (or as few) markets as you please! Completing our volunteer registration form does not immediately obligate you to volunteer service. Instead, it puts you on a list of prospective volunteers who we reach out to when needed.

Most volunteers are needed the day of the market. Responsibilities include setup, takedown, and operating the market during the event.

Setup typically involves building a grid for the vendor booths, moving materials from our storage locker to the event site, and unloading those materials and putting them in the appropriate location.

Takedown involves packing up supplies, returning those supplies to our storage locker, and collecting and disposing of trash. Vendors may also need some assistance tearing down/getting out of the park.

During the market, you can expect to table at one of our booths, distribute flyers and event programs, and interact with event attendees. You might make some rounds around the market to speak with vendors, empty trash bins, and so on.

No matter what, we need at least a dozen dedicated volunteers every market to ensure we deliver an enjoyable experience for all our guests!

We distribute an electronic volunteer sign-up spreadsheet prior to each market that allows you pencil you name for roles/shifts you wish to cover. We recommend signing up for your specific roles/shifts as soon as you receive the spreadsheet; it takes less than a minute!

Please note that we do put a cap on the number of volunteers who can serve in a given role. This cap reflects the needs of the market and ensures we adequately cover all aspects of the market. In the event all available slots have been taken for a given role/shift, you will have to explore other volunteer options.

Yes, you can! Whether you need recognition as part of a high school program or need to complete court-mandated community service hours, we are happy to recognize your service. Email us at stlveganmarket@gmail.com for additional assistance.

Yes, you can, but you should only so for good reason. Do you have the flu? Did a loved one just die? Did an unexpected emergency come up?

You are not strictly required to show up for your volunteer shift, and we are understanding and accommodating when things happen in your life that derail your plans to volunteer with us.

If you can, please let us know as soon as possible that you can no longer make it, and remove your name from the roles/shifts on our spreadsheet you signed up for that you can no longer cover.

Volunteering is supposed to be a meaningful way to give back to the community, a positive experience that makes you feel more content in life. We want you to enjoy yourself as a volunteer, and sometimes that means occasionally missing a shift you signed up for.

If you plan to volunteer, you should make a firm commitment to showing up and executing your responsibilities, especially after you have signed for specific tasks/shifts on our electronic spreadsheet. We are counting on you to make the market a success; it cannot run properly without at least a dozen volunteers to sustain it throughout the day!

The day of, you should apply sunblock, bring a large water bottle, and dress appropriately for the weather. Markets, especially in late summer, can take place on days with temperatures well into the 90s. You should also expect to be in the sun for several hours. It is very easy to get sunburnt in this time, so we recommend applying sunscreen shortly prior to starting your shift. And do not forget to bring water; we need to keep you well hydrated so you can stay safe and continue working without needing to spend as much money on drinks and wait in lines.

Since following through on your commitment to volunteer is so crucial once you’ve made it, you should put a reminder on your calendar with your shift time to make sure you don’t forget. Just one fewer volunteer in certain areas can significantly hurt operations at the market.

You are an integral part of the market; remember to act like it!

You should arrive 10-15 minutes prior to the start of your shift to allow time for parking and walking and transitioning from one volunteer to the next. Arriving early gives us more time to instruct incoming volunteers, thank outgoing volunteers, and adapt to any delays that might happen.

If you are running late, please still come; your help is needed, and it is much better to get some help than no help! That said, do your best to arrive early/on time to your shift. Doing so helps the market flow smoothly.