Ole Week of Service

April 21-27, 2025

Oles Can, Oles Will

This year we invite members of the St. Olaf community to work together on service projects and initiatives to build thriving, resilient, and caring communities. Students, alumni, faculty, staff, family, and friends of St. Olaf can take part regardless of location.

Questions? Email Alumni and Parent Relations or call 888-865-6537.

MN Craft Beer Festival Volunteer – Saturday, April 26, at 12 – 3:30 p.m. (20 slots)

The Minnesota Craft Beer Festival has sold out every year, and all proceeds are donated to Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.

Details:

Volunteers are needed behind the scenes to help the festival run smoothly. Tasks include refilling water pitchers, emptying buckets, and maintaining the event space.
Volunteers will receive a Habitat Volunteer Voucher to enter. If you’d like to participate in the festival, you can use your volunteer voucher after your shift ends to enjoy the event.
Your volunteer shift runs from noon–3:30 p.m. Please plan on staying for the entire shift.
You must be 21 years of age or older to volunteer (ID’s will be checked).
After you’ve registered, you’ll receive an Official Volunteer Voucher PDF that can only be used by registered volunteers. This will be your entry into the festival. We will have a list of all confirmed volunteers onsite.

Location and Parking:

The event is at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Hall B.
1301 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404
There are many parking lots near the Convention Center, along with opportunities to take public transit. Volunteer parking costs are not covered.

When you arrive:

All volunteers will need to bring your voucher in order to enter the event. Make your way through the line to the information table to check in to volunteer. You will be emailed a map that directs you to the volunteer meeting point a few weeks prior to the event. Please arrive at the information desk to start your shift promptly at noon.
To enter the festival, you will present your ID (all must be 21 or older), receive a hand stamped, and given a tasting glass.

Feed My Starving Children Volunteer – Monday, April 21 and Tuesday, April 22.
Event time 1-8 p.m. Sign-up for a 2-hour volunteer shift. Over 100 slots available.

Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) believes hope starts with food. FMSC is dedicated to seeing every child whole in body and spirit. FMSC works with food distribution partners that stay with communities for the long haul, empowering them to move from relief to development.

FMSC meals are developed by food science and nutrition professionals to supplement nutritional needs and reduce problems with malnutrition. Nutrition allows children to grow, thrive and develop to their full potential.

St. Olaf College will be hosting an FMSC MobilePack™ event on campus with a commitment to fund and pack 100,000 MannaPack® meals. All students, faculty, staff, alumni and parents are invited to join in!

Guidelines:

Only volunteer if you are healthy and completely comfortable serving.
Closed-toe shoes are required at all volunteer projects.
We recommend volunteers not wear jewelry. If worn, all items must be covered by the provided gloves and/or hairnets.
We suggest dressing in casual and clean layers.
The event runs from 1-8 p.m. Volunteer shifts are in 2-hour blocks. Please plan on staying for the entire shift.
Register here to receive your link to confirm your volunteer slot!

Location and Parking:

St. Olaf College, Buntrock Commons, Ballrooms
Parking spots available at Buntrock Commons and other lots on campus.

SF Marin Foodbank Volunteer – Saturday, April 26 at 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. (12 slots)

Our mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin. Before the pandemic, one-in-five neighbors was at risk of hunger. Now, we know the need is even greater. We address hunger head-on — from our food pantry network and home-delivered groceries to CalFresh (food stamp) enrollment. Every week, over 53,000 households count on us for food assistance. Sixty percent of what we distribute to them is fresh fruit and vegetables.

Help us sort through grocery store donations, clean produce, build grocery bags for home delivery, assist with our drive-thru pantry distribution, and other various tasks as needed.

Orientation and training are included in each shift. Volunteers MUST be over 8 years old and minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Guidelines:

Only volunteer if you are healthy and completely comfortable serving.
Closed-toe shoes are required at all volunteer projects.
We recommend volunteers not wear jewelry. If worn, all items must be covered by the provided gloves and/or hairnets.
We suggest dressing in casual and clean layers, as the temperature in the warehouse is often cool.
Your volunteer shift runs from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please plan on staying for the entire shift.
Questions: Contact Sonja Clark ’03.
Sonja will organize a post-volunteering social hour for any interested attendees.

Location and Parking:

Marin Food Bank, 2550 Kerner Blvd, San Rafael , California 94901
There are many parking spots available near the food bank.

When you arrive:

Please arrive at 11:45 a.m. to start your shift promptly at noon.

Greater Chicago Food Depository Volunteer – Friday, April 25 at 1p.m.–3:45 p.m. (10 slots)

Location: 4100 West Ann Lurie Place, Chicago, Illinois

The Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) strives to end hunger by connecting neighbors with healthy food and advancing solutions that address the root causes of hunger.

Oles are invited to come together and serve side-by-side for a GCFD repack session. Repack sessions focus on putting large quantities of bulk food into packages that individuals and families can use. Projects include repacking bulk products such as pasta or rice to individual/family portions, assembling boxes with assorted food, checking expiration dates, labeling products and cleaning produce.

Additional instructions:
Please plan to arrive 15–30 minutes early to your repack session to begin on time with a brief orientation. Volunteers will only be accepted 20 minutes past the start time.

Parking: There are over 300 free parking spots available for volunteers, visitors, and Food Depository staff. Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. You may also use street parking on Karlov Avenue and Ann Lurie Place, next to the Food Depository.

Entrance: Please enter through our main entrance/atrium doors, on the south side of our facility. Signs will direct you to the entrance and volunteer lobby where you will be greeted by our team for check-in.

Dress: Please note that all volunteers are required to wear long pants, covered shoulders and close toed shoes in the warehouse. If you would like to purchase a Food Depository Volunteer t-shirt for your visit, please visit the online store or create a custom design for your group. Net proceeds benefit our mission to end hunger.

Personal Belongings: Lockers with locks are available on site. Please note we are a tobacco-free and weapons-free campus.

Physical Requirements: Volunteers must be able to stand for up to 90 minutes while doing some light lifting and bending. We do have some seated positions available, depending on the project. If you require assistance, please contact us.

Health: If you are feeling under the weather or experiencing any symptoms of illness on the day of your volunteer event, we encourage you to stay home. There will be many more opportunities to volunteer with us when you’re feeling better!

Attendance: We are extremely dependent on our volunteers for these events and last-minute cancellations or no shows hinder our ability to provide food for those in need. If you are no longer able to attend, please cancel online or notify us at least 48 hours in advance.

River Sweep – Annual Salt Creek Watershed Network Spring Cleanup – Saturday, April 19 at 9 a.m.–12 p.m. (50 slots)

Location: Bemis Woods North Forest Preserve – Western Springs, IL

Calling all community and nature lovers to volunteer for our annual Salt Creek Spring Cleanup. Individuals, families, and groups are welcome. This outing is a great opportunity to be with friends and family and to meet your neighbors interested in caring for our local environment during the height of springtime! Enjoy environmental programs and a complimentary cookout lunch to replenish those burned calories afterwards.

Land participants: Meet by 9 a.m. at the Bemis Woods North Forest Preserve footbridge to sign in and pick up your cleanup gear and area assignments.

Watercraft participants: Meet at 9 .m for a 9:30 a.m. launch at the Graue Mill parking lot at 3803 York Rd. This will be a shorter run and is suited for beginners or light watercraft.

Questions? Contact Rebecca Fiala ’93 at prairie.hawk@yahoo.com.

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