Volunteer with Alchemist CDC

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, we rely on the help of volunteers to  connect communities to land, food and opportunity toward a vision in which all neighborhoods are vibrant, equitable, healthy, and diverse. We offer a range of volunteer opportunities across three different programs: CalFresh at Farmers’ Markets, Neighborhood Empowerment, and Community Connections 95820.

You can find many of our volunteer opportunities on our Calendar.

We welcome all who want to give back, including:

  • Individual volunteers
  • Group volunteering: we consider groups to be 3 people or more. The Neighborhood Empowerment program can accommodate groups of 3 or more.
  • Corporate Volunteering: If your company or organization is looking for a volunteer day for staff, contact Joe Robustelli at joe@alchemistcdc.org to inquire about an opportunity with our Neighborhood Empowerment program. We can help set up a volunteer event at one of our community gardens and can even include educational elements (such as fruit tree pruning or composting lesson) and lunch catered by one of our Incubator businesses if your organization has a budget available for additional components.
  • Sacramento Natural Foods Co-Op Member Volunteer Program: The Co-op’s Member Volunteer Program provides qualifying members with a discount when they volunteer their time with specific Community Outreach Partners. Alchemist CDC is a participating Community Outreach Partner, and Co-Op member volunteers who participate will be able to sign up for up to two volunteer opportunities each month, receiving one credit for each. Each credit (up to two) will generate an electronic coupon for the next month, and each coupon can be used to receive a 20% discount on a single transaction the following month.
  • Student volunteer organizations: as of January 1, 2024, these groups must be supervised by, at minimum, 2 adult chaperones from their youth organization. This is required to maintain compliance with AB506.
  • Youth completing community service hours for school: as of January 1, 2024, volunteers under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during their volunteer time. This is required to maintain compliance with AB506.

CalFresh at Farmers’ Markets

Get involved today! We need your help to support food access in Sacramento County.
Contact volunteer@alchemistcdc.org to schedule a hands-on training at the market!

Alchemist CDC’s CalFresh at Farmers’ Markets program operates CalFresh processing at multiple farmers’ markets throughout Sacramento County through . The CalFresh program offers qualifying lower income individuals financial assistance in purchasing food for themselves and their families. Farmers’ markets are a great asset to communities, and can lead to improved health for area residents. By making it easier for lower-income populations to purchase food at farmers’ markets, these community assets will become more equitable and accessible to all individuals.

CalFresh at Farmers’ Markets volunteers assist in processing SNAP transactions, distribute EBT and Market Match vouchers, and assist in redemption of vouchers from farmers’ market vendors.

Training: All volunteers must complete a volunteer agreement and must sign up for shifts in advance using our sign-up portal.

Youth: We welcome volunteers ages 14 and older. Volunteers ages 14 to 17 need a parent or guardian’s to accompany them in order to volunteer.

COVID-19 Safety: For everyone’s continued safety, all volunteers must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination (including booster) before or at training.

CalFresh and Pandemic EBT recipients are eligible to volunteer while receiving services.


Where we schedule volunteers
:

Capitol Mall Farmers’ Market
Wednesdays 9AM – 1:30PM (May – September)
Capitol Mall & 6th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Florin Farmers’ Market
Thursdays 8AM – 12:30PM
5901 Florin Road, Sacramento, CA 95823

Country Club Plaza Farmers’ Market
Saturdays 8AM – 12:30PM
2405 Butano Drive, Sacramento, CA 95825

Laguna Farmers’ Market
Saturdays 8AM – 12:30PM
8245 Laguna Boulevard, Elk Grove, CA 95758 

Midtown Farmers’ Market
Saturdays 8AM – 1:30PM (winter: 9AM-1:30PM)
1050 20th Street, Sacramento, CA 95811

Natomas Farmers’ Market
Saturdays 8AM – 12:30PM
May (Memorial Day weekend) through October
2501 New Market Drive, Sacramento, CA 95835

Sunrise Farmers’ Market
Saturdays 8AM – 12:30PM
11164 Folsom Boulevard, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742

Central Farmers’ Market
Sundays 8AM – 12:30PM
1689 Arden Way, Sacramento, CA 95815

Neighborhood Empowerment

Contact: volunteer@alchemistcdc.org

We believe that communities have within themselves the vision, passions, and ability to do good and great things. We also recognize that many great ideas can be held back by the need for formal organizational structure. We see our role in the community as providing the structure and support of a trellis on which the vines of grassroots collaboration can grow, flourish, and bear fruit. In this capacity, Alchemist is best known for our Land-Based Work. Through these projects, we help transform blighted land into vibrant, neighborhood amenities through direct community engagement, design, and hands-on participation in creating public gardens and community gathering spaces.

We have volunteer opportunities helping with general maintenance and clean up during our monthly workdays at the following locations:

  • Oak Park Sol Community Garden 3733 Broadway, 95817
  • Oak Park Art Garden 3834 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, 95820
  • Pansy Community Garden Park 3601 Pansy Ave, 95817
  • Mirasol Village Community Garden 701 Pipevine Street, 95811

In keeping with our values of empowering the community to implement practical solutions, we help coordinate the creation and maintenance of pop-up cooling stations around the region that can be deployed when severe heat threatens public health. You can help make this possible by donating or volunteering to host a cooling station.

Community Food Connections

Contact: volunteer@alchemistcdc.org

We deliver farm-fresh produce and grocery staples to low-income families in south Sacramento that have barriers to accessing traditional emergency food distribution sites (e.g., immunocompromised, senior or other COVID-vulnerable family members in the household, lack of transportation, single caregivers, etc.) We deliver this food right to their door every week at no charge. We prioritize purchasing our produce from small-midsize local growers whenever possible, resulting in additional economic support for our region.

Volunteers needed on Mondays in Oak Park neighborhood of Sacramento: Delivery drivers 10am-12pm (using your own vehicle)

Contact Us

General volunteer inquires: volunteer@alchemistcdc.org

CalFresh at Farmers’ Markets: volunteer@alchemistcdc.org

Neighborhood Empowerment: Joe Robustelli (he/him), Program Manager, joe@alchemistcdc.org

Community Food Connections:  CommunityConnections@alchemistcdc.org