Information for Volunteers

Thank you for registering as a volunteer with Salem Harvest! We look forward to meeting you.
By volunteering with Salem Harvest, you are agreeing to these Terms of Participation.

Here is other helpful information.

Registration

Everyone 18 years old and older who attends a harvest must first be registered as a volunteer. Once you are registered, you are eligible to sign up for harvests, and you don't have to register again in subsequent years. You can go to the Volunteer Toolkit to renew your registration and to update your contact information.

The Volunteer Toolkit is a page that contains all of your contact information, current signups, current waiting lists, and harvest history. Watch this short video to learn how to access and use this feature.

Finding Out About Harvests

For only a few very large harvests, we will send an email to all registered volunteers to announce the harvest, with a description of the harvest and a link to the Harvests Page.

A Harvest Alert email notification system has been developed where volunteers can choose to receive an email each time a new harvest is posted on the Harvest Page. Warning - this could be a lot of emails. Fill out this short Harvest Alert Form to receive this type of email.

All harvests needing volunteers are posted on the Harvests Page. Checking this page often will keep you aware of upcoming harvests. Sometimes we find out about crop donations on very short notice, so check the Harvests page often.

Sign Up for a Harvest

Open harvests are posted on the Harvests page. To sign up, click on the harvest link, and then type in your name. You must type it exactly as you did when registering, so we can match your record in our database.

If you want to help at the harvest by donating up to a half hour of your time, check the box below your name and the harvest leader will talk to you at the harvest if we need help. If you assist at the harvest, you will still have time to pick produce for yourself and to donate.

You must read and check off two boxes about the Release and Waiver of Liability to be added to the roster. The first indicates that you have read the Release; the second indicates that you agree to and will comply with its terms. Because you are indicating that you agree with this waiver, you must not sign up other people for harvests. There is also a check box saying that you agree to the Terms of Participation . Finally, click on the button that says "Signup for this harvest."

How Does the Waiting List Work?

If all the roster spots for a harvest are full, you may have the option to get on a waiting list. Click the waiting list link and then enter your name and check off the boxes as you would for a regular sign up. You will be sent an email that asks you to confirm your request for the waiting list by clicking on a link in the email. You will then receive another email confirming your place on the waiting list. If enough people cancel from the regular roster, you will receive an email telling you that you have been promoted to the regular roster. Be sure to check your email often if you are on the waiting list so that you do not miss your chance.

If you have set a password for your Volunteer Toolkit and a roster is full, you can get on the waiting list immediately by entering your password after signing up.

As the harvest approaches, if you know that you will not be able to attend if you are promoted, please cancel your waiting list spot. There will be a cancel link in your waiting list email, and in your Volunteer Toolkit, there will be a cancel link as well. Cancelling may allow someone below you on the waiting list to go to the harvest.

If you included a password when registering or have created a password since then to access the Volunteer Toolkit feature, you can check your waiting list position or roster status instantly without waiting to receive an email through your Volunteer Toolkit page.

How Will I Know the Exact Harvest Location?

After you sign up, you'll see a page with the address of the harvest and other important information that is specific to the harvest. This is the only place the actual address appears on the website so write it down or print it out.

You will also receive an email with the same information. Through your Volunteer Toolkit you can also find this information.

Please Cancel If You Can't Make It!

If your schedule changes, please cancel in a timely manner (at least 2 hours before a harvest) so someone else can take your spot. The email you receive will include a link where you can cancel or you can also cancel from your Volunteer Toolkit page. Your courtesy in this matter will help us schedule the right number of volunteers for the available produce and thereby assure more fresh, healthy food is rescued.

What To Expect at a Harvest

When you arrive at a harvest a volunteer will direct you where to park and help you check in. We'll provide a brief orientation with helpful and important tips about harvesting, information about the property, and food handling safety requirements.

Every adult who attends a harvest must be a registered volunteer, have signed up online for that harvest and checked off the boxes indicating that they have read and agree with the Release and Waiver of Liability. Children (under 18 years old) do not need to register or sign up, but must be supervised by an adult who is on the roster.

Volunteers donate half or more of what they pick and can keep the rest for their family's use. The donated food is delivered to an emergency food distribution partner in the Willamette Valley. Produce is not weighed until after the harvest, so use your best judgment to determine how much is half of what you harvest.

A few ideas to determine half is picking a bucket for donation then a bucket for home, alternating throughout the harvest -or- picking half the time for donation and the other half for home use. At some harvests all the donated produce will be picked first and then volunteers pick for themselves. This will always be explained at orientation.

That is all the basic information for registering and attending harvests!
Keep reading to find answers to questions that volunteers often have about Salem Harvest.



Frequently Asked Questions

What Should I Do If My Contact Information Changes?

If you are changing contact information such as your address or phone number, go to the Volunteer Page and click on the Volunteer Toolkit button. Enter your name and password, update your information and then be sure to save it.

If you need to make a name change, write to: webmaster@salemharvest.org.

Why Won't the Signup Page Let Me On the Roster?

You may have typed your name differently than you did when you initially registered or when you made an update to your name. You also need to check off the Release and Waiver of Liability and Terms of Participation boxes at the bottom of the page. If you are still unable to access the roster, please Do Not re-register. Instead contact the webmaster at webmaster@salemharvest.org or (503) 400-6618 ext 5.

I Forgot to Write Down the Harvest Address

The email you receive after you sign up includes a link to information about the harvest, including the address. If you have signed up for the harvest but have lost this email, go to the Volunteer Page and click on the Volunteer Toolkit button, then enter your name and password. Once on your toolkit page, scroll down and find the harvest you looking for, and click on the link in the status column. This will display the information about the harvest.

If you have any trouble, contact the webmaster at webmaster@salemharvest.org.

What if I Have Other Questions?

Please review the General Operations Frequently Asked Questions page. More general questions pertaining to the operations of Salem Harvest are answered there.