Volunteer with Don Bosco Cares
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Don Bosco Cares — our Community Meals, Food Pantry, Open Closet, Senior & Disability Services, and Mobile Pantry programs.
Our volunteer service is inspired by the Salesian mission and the spirit of Saint John Bosco: serving with love, dignity, respect, and compassion, especially those most in need.
Volunteer placement is not automatic. Carmen Lopez de Linero of Don Bosco Cares reviews volunteer interest personally and will help determine which program fits you best and when you might start.
Before you begin serving, we may ask you to come in for a short in-person intake, provide additional information, and sign our volunteer agreement and related forms.
Our programs and when they run
- Community Meals (Soup Kitchen) — Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m. Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older. Volunteers under 16 may serve only when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
- Food Pantry — Tuesday, 7:00–9:00 a.m.; Saturday, 6:30–9:30 a.m.
- Open Closet — Monday, 9:00–11:00 a.m.; Wednesday and Friday, 8:30–10:30 a.m.
- Senior & Disability Services (Seniors Delivery) — second Saturday and last Wednesday of the month.
- Mobile Pantry — schedule varies.
Who can volunteer
Adults and young people are welcome to express interest in volunteering. Some programs have age or supervision requirements.
Community Meals requires volunteers to be 16 or older. Volunteers under 16 may serve in that program only when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian for the whole session. Other programs may have their own requirements, and Carmen will review them with you.
School and court-ordered service hours
We are glad to work with students completing service-learning requirements.
If you need court-ordered or community service hours, please call us at (914) 552-9541 before submitting any volunteer information. We cannot accept every referral, and a short phone conversation first helps make sure the placement is a good fit for you and for the people we serve.
What we ask of every volunteer
All volunteers are expected to:
- Arrive on time.
- Notify the coordinator if unable to attend.
- Follow staff instructions.
- Treat everyone with dignity and respect.
- Wear appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes when required.
- Follow safety, food-handling, and hygiene procedures.
- Respect confidentiality and privacy.
- Refrain from inappropriate language or behavior.
- Not report under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Our volunteer agreement
Our volunteer service is inspired by the Salesian mission and the spirit of Saint John Bosco, serving with love, dignity, respect, and compassion, especially those most in need. Through our programs, we seek to offer not only practical assistance, but also welcome, hope, and a sense of community.
Before beginning service, volunteers may be asked to complete an in-person intake and sign the applicable volunteer agreement, rules, waiver, photo permission, or other forms required by Saint John Bosco Parish and Don Bosco Cares.
How to get started
For now, please contact Carmen Lopez de Linero to talk about volunteering. We are planning an online volunteer interest form, but it is not live yet.
- Don Bosco Cares
- (914) 552-9541
- clinero@donboscopc.org
- Address
- 22 Don Bosco Place, Port Chester, NY 10573
Once you have volunteered with us, scheduling is arranged directly with Carmen. We hope to offer online session requests in the future.