The New Glasgow Farmers Market is an independent nonprofit organization that relies on fundraising to support Market initiatives, programming and our current redevelopment project, which will eventually replace our seasonal Market structure with a new year-round community gathering place.
Our volunteers play an important role in these efforts. Each Saturday, volunteers help operate the NGFM Café and Ice Cream Shoppe, with proceeds going directly back into the Market. We also occasionally need additional volunteers for special events, fundraising activities and other Market initiatives.
What is involved in volunteering at the Café?
Depending on the season and your assigned area, duties may include:
- Scooping ice cream
- Serving coffee, tea, hot chocolate and donuts
- Selling donuts and bagels
- Ringing customer orders through our Square POS system
- Keeping your work area clean and completing basic cleaning duties before leaving
- No previous café or retail experience is required. We will provide training.
Please note that Café shifts involve standing for most or all of your shift. During ice cream season, there is also regular bending and reaching. Volunteers should be comfortable interacting with customers, vendors and other members of the community.
Areas where we may need volunteers
- Café
- Donuts and Bagels
- Special Events
- Set up
- Fundraising
- Other Market initiatives
If you have a particular skill or another way you would like to contribute, please let us know.
VOLUNTEER COMMITMENT
You do not need to volunteer every week. We understand that volunteers have school, work and other commitments, and you can provide us with your availability.
However, we are looking for volunteers who are genuinely interested in becoming involved with the Market rather than completing only a small number of shifts.
Once you have confirmed a scheduled shift, we ask that you make every effort to honour that commitment, as we plan staffing around our volunteers.
Reference letters are provided at the discretion of the Market and are generally reserved for volunteers who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment, reliability and meaningful involvement with the organization. Completing a small number of volunteer shifts does not automatically qualify someone for a reference letter.
BENEFITS FOR YOUTH & STUDENTS
Volunteering at the Market can be a great opportunity to build experience for your résumé, develop customer service and retail skills, meet people in your community and gain confidence in a workplace setting.
Many of our student volunteers have stayed connected with the Market and continue to return from time to time even after graduating or moving on to other opportunities.
We welcome volunteers who support the Market's mission and are interested in making a positive contribution to our organization and community.
The information provided through this form will be kept confidential and will help us determine an appropriate volunteer opportunity for you.