Volunteer with Cooking Matters

18 Reasons offers free hands-on cooking and nutrition 6-week series to food-insecure Bay Area communities through our Cooking Matters program. We work in partnership with various community sites and schools and provide the program to kids, teens, adults, and families. The classes are facilitated by a teaching team of an 18 Reasons staff member and volunteers as the cooking, nutrition, and class assistants for the series. Volunteers are an essential part of our organization!

We have volunteer opportunities available for community-minded helpers passionate about sharing their love of good food, home-cooking, and supporting our vision of creating more equity and belonging through food education. There is no professional experience required to volunteer to teach a Cooking Matters series. We accept volunteers on a rolling basis.

Cooking Matters Volunteer Role Descriptions

Cooking Educator Role Description (In-Person)
You are a cooking enthusiast! No professional experience required, just a love of sharing home-cooking and food. During class, you will lead highly participatory cooking lessons featuring simple, healthy recipes. You will demonstrate and practice basic cooking techniques and terminology, proper knife handling, and food safety and sanitation measures. You will work with the 18 Reasons Program Coordinator and class participants to select recipes for class each week. The coordinator brings the curriculum, food, and cooking equipment — no need to bring anything other than yourself and the instructor manual 18 Reasons will provide you.

Nutrition Educator Role Description (In-Person)
You do not need to have a professional background as a nutritionist or dietitian to succeed in this role — you just need a love of healthy eating and an eagerness to help others. Some of our nutritionist volunteers do have a background in nutrition, food science, dietetics, or a related field, but it is not required. Class topics include using MyPlate as a tool for healthy eating, planning balanced meals, eating healthier fats, food budgeting, serving sizes, reading nutrition labels, and physical activity. The classes are intended to be interactive, and the nutrition educator facilitates open-minded conversation in class using activities, lesson plans, and visual aids provided by 18 Reasons.

Class Assistant Role Description (In-Person)
Class assistants primarily help the teaching team with student engagement, classroom set-up, food preparation, and cleaning up. Class assistants support the cooking and nutrition volunteer and interact with students to help support their learning. Common class assistant duties include packing groceries for participants to take home, loading/unloading kitchen equipment, and washing dishes.

How to Become a Cooking Matters Volunteer

1. Fill out our volunteer interest form
Please complete the short volunteer interest form. An 18 Reasons staff member will follow up with you within a week.

2. Sign up for an open volunteer position in a series
We post new volunteer positions as they become available, and we fill them on a first come, first served basis. To sign up, review our class schedule below and email us to let us know what series and role you're interested in. If nothing fits your schedule right now, please fill out an interest form to receive updates on future classes.

3. Complete the self-led volunteer trainings online and familarize yourself with the curriculum
The volunteer manager will provide trainings once your application is completed.

4. Submit proof of the COVID-19 Vaccination and valid Food Handler card
It is required that all in-person volunteers submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and have a valid Food Handler card. Please submit here or email cookingmattersvolunteers@18reasons.org copies of these documents. The Food Handler Card through SafeServ costs $15 and takes about 1-2 hours to complete training, we are able to offer reimbursement if needed. All volunteers must be masked during class.

5. Shadow a Cooking Matters class
When you visit an ongoing class series, the 18 Reasons Program Coordinator on site will walk you step-by-step through a typical Cooking Matters class. You’ll have the chance to observe other volunteers teaching and ask any questions you have about the program.

Available Volunteer Opportunities

See below for our current and upcoming schedule of Cooking Matters series. Refer to the schedule to find a class to shadow or sign up for an open volunteer role for an upcoming series. We update the schedule on a rolling basis. Email cookingmattersvolunteers@gmail.com to sign up or with any schedule questions. *All in-person volunteer positions should plan to arrive 30 minutes prior to the start of class time to help with set-up and plan to stay up to 30 minutes after class time to help with clean up.

In-Person Volunteer Positions

San Francisco

Cooking Matters for Adults
2 - 3:30pm Wednesdays March 1st - April 5th
DISH SF Affordable Housing 1321 Mission St San Francisco, CA 94103
All positions filled

Cooking Matters for Teens
4:45 - 6:15pm* Tuesdays March 7 - April 18th (Skip March 28th)
College Track, 4301 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94124
All positions filled

Cooking Matters for Teens
10 - 11:30 AM Thursdays March 9 - April 20th (skip march 30th)
Youth Chance High School 169 Steuart St, San Francisco, CA 94105
All positions filled

Cooking Matters for Kids
4:30 - 6pm Thursdays, March 9th - April 20th (skip march 30th)
Boys & Girls Club 1050 York St, San Francisco, CA 94110
All positions filled

Cooking Matters for Adults (Spanish)
10:30 - 12:30pm Fridays March 17 - April 21st
MEDA (Mission Economic Development Agency),

2301 Mission St #301, San Francisco, CA 94110
All positions filled

Cooking Matters for Families
1:15 - 2:30 pm Wednesdays March 22nd - May 2nd (skip march 29th)
West Portal Elementary School, 5 Lenox Way, San Francisco, CA 94127
Nutrition Volunteer needed

Cooking Matters for Kids
3:30 - 5pm Tuesdays April 4th - May 9th
Dolores Huerta School, 65 Chenery St, San Francisco, CA 94131
All positions filled

Cooking Matters for Teens
12:30 - 2:30 pm* Wednesdays April 5th - May 10th
John O'Connell High School, 2355 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Nutrition Volunteer needed, Class Assistant needed

Cooking Matters for Adults (Spanish language class)
5-6:30pm* Wednesdays April 5 - May 10th
Women's Building, 3543 18th St #8, San Francisco, CA 94110
All positions filled

Cooking Matters for Kids
4 - 5:30pm* Thursdays April 6th - May 11th
YMCA at West Portal Elementary School, 5 Lenox Way, San Francisco, CA 94127
Cooking Volunteer needed, Nutrition Volunteer needed

Cooking Matters for Teens
1 - 2:45pm Wednesdays, April 12 - May 17
Abraham Lincoln High School, 2162 24th Ave San Francisco, CA 94116
All positions filled

Cooking Matters for Teens
1 - 2:30pm Tuesdays April 18 2023 - May 23
Independence High School, 1350 7th Ave,San Francisco, CA 94122
Nutrition Volunteer needed

Cooking Matters Para Adults *Spanish Series*
10 - 11:30 am Fridays April 14 - May 19th
Community Well 78 Ocean Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112
Cooking Volunteer needed, Class Assistant needed

Cooking Matters for Adults
3:30 - 5pm Wednesdays April 26th - May 31st
Kain Na Food Bank, 1340 4th San Francisco, CA
All positions filled

Cooking Matters for Adults
11-12:30 Thursdays April 27th - June 1st (5 weeks, skip may 18th)
Openhouse, 65 Laguna St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Cooking Volunteer needed

Cooking Matters for Kids
2 - 3pm Thursdays April 27th - June 1st (5 weeks, skip may 18th)
Bayshore Elementary, 155 Oriente St, Daly City, CA 94014
Nutrition Volunteer needed, Class Assistant needed

Cooking Matters for Kids
3:30 - 4:30 Thursdays April 27th - June 1st (5 weeks, skip may 18th)
Miraloma Elementary School 175 Omar Way, San Francisco, CA 94127
Cooking volunteer needed, Nutrition Volunteer needed, Class Assistant needed

Cooking Matters for Adults (Spanish)
10:30 - 12:30pm Fridays May 5th - June 16th (Skip May 26th)
MEDA (Mission Economic Development Agency), 2301 Mission St #301, San Francisco, CA 94110
Class Assistant Volunteer needed

Alameda County

Cooking Matters para Adultos
1:30-3:30pm* Fridays, March 10 - April 15
Lifelong East Oakland, 10700 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94605
Cooking Volunteer needed, Nutrition Volunteer needed

Cooking Matters for Kids
3:30-5:00pm* Wednesdays, March 1 - March 29 (5-week series)
Westlake Middle School, 2629 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612
Cooking Volunteer needed, Nutrition Volunteer needed, Class Assistant needed

Cooking Matters for Kids
3:30-5:00pm* Thursdays, March 2 - March 30 (5-week series)
Montera Middle School, 5555 Ascot Dr, Oakland, CA 94611
Cooking Volunteer needed, Nutrition Instructor needed, Class Assistant needed

Cooking Matters for Kids
2:35-3:50pm* Thursdays, March 2 - April 13 (skip April 6)
Sylvia Mendez Elementary, 2840 Ellsworth St, Berkeley, CA 94705
All positions filled

Cooking Matters for Kids
4:00-5:30pm* Thursdays, April 5th - May 10th
Coliseum Place Apartments, 7120 Hawley Street, Oakland, CA 94621
Cooking Volunteer needed, Nutrition Instructor needed, Class Assistant needed

Cooking Matters for Teens
2:45-4:00pm* Tuesdays, April 11 - May 16
Lincoln High School, 2600 Teagarden St, San Leandro, CA 94577
Class Assistant needed

Cooking Matters for Kids
2:30-4:00pm* Wednesdays, April 12 - May 10 (5-week series)
Aurum Middle School, 1034 66th Ave, Oakland, CA 94621
Nutrition Instructor needed, Class Assistant needed

Cooking Matters for Kids
4- 5:30pm* Thursdays, April 13 - May 11 (5-week series)
Greenleaf Elementary,

6328 E 17th St, Oakland, CA 94621
Cooking Volunteer needed, Nutrition Instructor needed, Class Assistant needed

Contra Costa

Cooking Matters for Kids
1:30 - 2:45pm* Wednesdays, March 1 - March 29 (5 weeks)
Riverside Elementary School, 1300 Amador St., San Pablo, CA 94806
Cooking Volunteer needed

Cooking Matters for Parents
9:30 - 11:30am* Tuesdays, February 21 - March 28
Hillview Junior High School, 333 Yosemite Dr, Pittsburg, CA 94565
All positions filled

Cooking Matters para Adultos (Spanish)
9:30 - 11:30am* Wednesdays, February 22 - March 29
Hillview Junior High School, 333 Yosemite Dr, Pittsburg, CA 94565
All positions filled

Cooking Matters for Kids
1:30 - 2:45pm* Wednesdays, March 1 - March 29 (5 weeks)
Riverside Elementary School, 1300 Amador St., San Pablo, CA 94806
Cooking Volunteer needed

Cooking Matters for Kids
2:30 - 4:00pm* Wednesdays, March 1 - April 12 (skip 4/5)
Dover Elementary, 1870 19th St, San Pablo, CA 94806
All positions filled

Cooking Matters for Kids
3:30 - 5:30* Fridays, March 3 - April 7
Los Medanos Apartments, 2000-2070 Crestview Dr, Pittsburg, CA 94565
Class assistant needed

Cooking Matters for Kids
3:00 - 4:30pm* Thursdays, March 16 - April 20
Richmond Police Activities League (RPAL), 2200 Macdonald Ave, Richmond, CA 94801
Class Assistant needed

Cooking Matters para Padres (Spanish)
5:00 - 7:00pm* Thursdays, March 16 - April 20
Lakeside Apartments, 1897 Oakmead Dr, Concord, CA 94520
Class Assistant needed (you do not need to speak Spanish to be the class assistant!)

Cooking Matters for Teens
3:45 - 5:15pm* Thursday, April 13 - May 18
Richmond High School, 1250 23rd St., Richmond, CA 94804
Cooking Volunteer, Nutrition Volunteer, and Class Assistant needed

Cooking Matters for Parents
1:00 - 2:25pm* Fridays, April 14 - May 26 (skip 4/28)
Crossroads High School, 2701 Willow Pass Rd., Concord, CA 94519
Cooking volunteer needed

Cooking Matters for Families
5:30 - 7:30pm* Tuesdays, April 18 - May 23
San Pablo Community Center, 2450 Rd 20, San Pablo, CA 94806
All positions filled

Cooking Matters for Kids
2:30 - 4:00pm* Wednesdays, April 19 - May 24
Dover Elementary School, 1870 19th St, San Pablo, CA 94806
Nutrition Volunteer and Class Assistant needed

Cooking Matters for Kids
3:30 - 5:30pm* Fridays, April 21 - May 26
Lakeside Apartments, 1897 Oakmead Dr, Concord, CA 94520
Cooking Volunteer and Class Assistant needed

Cooking Matters for Parents
2:00 - 4:00pm* Thursdays, May 11 - June 22 (skip 5/18)
East County First Five, 355 E Leland Rd, Pittsburg CA 94565
Cooking Volunteer and Class Assistant needed

Time Commitment

Cooking Matters classes meet once a week for six weeks. and we ask that volunteers are able to commit to a full 6 week series. Classes are held anytime between 9:00am and 8:00pm, Tuesday-Friday.  Each week, Cooking Matters classes require a time commitment of class time, plus 30 minutes of prep time before class, and up to 30 minutes of clean-up after class (so that's 3 hours per week).  In addition, communication (via email) with the Cooking Matters Program Coordinator about class scheduling, curriculum, etc. is expected.  Volunteers are encouraged to contribute to all aspects of the class, including set-up, clean-up, and food preparation. If you need support around transportation, please reach out.

Volunteer Benefits

We love our volunteers! In addition to creating and empowering community through food, volunteers receive a complimentary 18 Reasons membership, one meal per class, training and coaching, and are invited to volunteer appreciation celebrations! Volunteers earn a complimentary ticket to their choice of 18th Street Kitchen class after volunteering for 3 Cooking Matters series in year!