Thank you so much for volunteering your time with us! We are grateful for each person who lends a few hours of their time – we are an entirely volunteer run organization & it takes a village to be able to do what we do each week. 


Volunteer Responsibilities - What to Expect

Each shift is fairly informal. We very much "learn by doing" at SFY, and no two days are quite the same! We ask everyone to pitch in with whatever is needed. We all help one another learn and work, so please ask questions throughout your shift! You can think of the different roles as kitchen prep, serving, cleaning, and dishwasher…you may end up doing a little bit of each.

  • What to Wear:  To keep things safe and clean, please wear closed-toe shoes and tie long hair back or cover with a hat/bandana.
    We also suggest wearing clothes you don't mind getting messy, just in case of any kitchen splashes or spills!


  • Location: Soup for You! is located at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2730 E. 31st St. just southeast of Lake St. and Minnehaha Ave. 

    • If you arrive & no one is at the door, please press the button and someone will buzz you in – let them know you’re with Soup for You! 

  • Find the Kitchen: Enter Holy Trinity and take the stairs on the left down one floor, follow the hallway around the corner, and you should see/hear the kitchen straight ahead.

Food Preparation & Safety

  • Hygiene: Wash your hands before starting, after handling dirty dishes, after eating, and regularly throughout your shift. 

    • There is a designated ‘handwashing sink’ in the kitchen.

  • Wash any fruits & veggies to be served. 

  • Assist in food prep (cutting bread, chopping veggies, plating desserts, etc.)

  • If you are feeling unwell or have a contagious illness, please stay home!

Door Greeter

We officially serve 12–1pm, but guests can arrive beginning at 11:30am.
Starting then, we have a ‘greeter’ stationed upstairs at the entrance to let guests in & direct them to the dining space.

Serving Guests

  • Greet guests and invite them to have a seat. After they settle, ask which soup they’d like.

    • Familiarize yourself with the ingredients and toppings beforehand. (Cheese is usually optional; some guests may skip bread).

  • Call out your order to the chef (example: “Two lentil soups & one miso soup!”).

  • Plate the soup with bread, toppings, and (usually) orange slices. Bring one or two orders at a time, or ask a fellow volunteer to help you carry more.

  • Check in on guests as they eat. When they finish their first bowl, ask if they’d like another (usually limited to two bowls per person, but we aren’t too strict about it).

  • Please be respectful to everyone; report any disruptive behavior to the chef immediately.

Cleaning & Upkeep

  • Sanitize kitchen surfaces, countertops, and cutting boards.

  • Regularly check the dining area to clear dishes, sanitize tables, and clean spills.

  • Toward the end of the shift, help put everything away and clean all surfaces with spray cleaner and a wet towel.

Dishwashing

  • Bring dirty dishes from the dining area to the kitchen in trays or a cart.

    • Be sure to leave one empty dish tub out for guests to bus their dishes.

  • If there is a lull in washing, check if coffee needs refilling or if help is needed on the floor. Dishes can almost always wait, please be ready to jump in elsewhere!

  • Bring clean bowls back to the chef as they become available.

Shift Breaks

You are welcome to enjoy lunch during your shift! Things typically slow down mid-shift, and you can put in your own order then. You may eat in the kitchen (on a tray), but we encourage you to take a seat in the dining room! 

Taking Time Off

Please just help us keep our volunteer sign-up updated & accurate!
If you have a regular schedule, please give your usual crew a heads up if you’ll be out.