So What Else - Outdoor Food Distribution - October 2025 (North Bethesda)

Description: At our acclaimed Outdoor Food Distribution located in North Bethesda! Every Saturday So What Else provides free food to over 1,500 people in the parking lot in front of our warehouse with the help of our incredible volunteer team.

Volunteers will help with the following tasks: setting up tables, setting up tents, preparing produce, sorting produce, helping with line control, helping to direct traffic, and more. Volunteers should plan to arrive 15 minutes early to allow time for a quick orientation. Volunteers should be able to stand for long periods, lift large boxes, and do a considerable amount of movement. Volunteers are required to wear closed-toed shoes and clothing they can both move around in and get dirty (NO CROCS ALLOWED). This event is entirely outdoors so please dress accordingly and bring both water and a snack to your shift. This is a great opportunity for SSL hours, and children above 10 can participate as long as their parent/guardian accompanies anyone under 16.

AGE RESTRICTION: This is a great opportunity for children aged 10 and above to participate. A parent or guardian must accompany children aged 10-15, and if they arrive without one, their parent or guardian will be contacted. Volunteers aged 16 and above can participate independently without the presence of a parent or guardian.

5:30 am to 8:00 am: Volunteers will help prepare food boxes to load into cars for our drive-thru distribution and assist with traffic control. (Double Hours are available for individuals participating in the Maryland Community Service Program when volunteering for the Traffic Volunteer position.) (THE DOUBLE IS NOT FOR SSL )

7:00 am to 11:00 am: Volunteers will help load food boxes into cars, assist with breaking down empty boxes, and clean up where needed.

10:00 am to 1:00 pm: Volunteers will help load cars with food boxes,  assist with breaking down empty boxes, and clean up where needed.

12:00 pm to 3 PM: Volunteers will help load cars with food boxes and assist with clean-up after the distribution has ended.

We encourage you to sign up for any shift, even if you can't stay for the entire time. Simply inform the site lead upon arrival so our team can accommodate your schedule.

*To reach our warehouse, type "4924 Wyaconda Rd, North Bethesda, MD" into your GPS. This will take you directly to the entrance of the parking lot. After you pull into the lot, please look for the yellow parking spots immediately to your right. You can park in any of the yellow parking spots in the lot. Parking is not permitted in front of Dogtopia and against the fence. To find our warehouse entrance, look for signs for "Dogtopia" and then keep walking; our warehouse is to the left of Dogtopia, directly around the corner. When you arrive please walk to the outdoor tables and ask for a staff person, then let them know you're there to volunteer.

Contact Person: Megan Joe | mjoe@sowhatelse.org | (240) 705 4345

Please feel free to contact Megan with any questions about our volunteer opportunities.

If your plans change and you can no longer attend, please notify us by emailing mjoe@sowhatelse.org or canceling your reservation. As a volunteer-driven organization, we rely heavily on your support to help distribute over a million meals to families year-round. Thank you for making a difference!

Student participation in this service project is at the discretion of the student’s parent/guardian and must be completed outside of school hours. The nonprofit organization is responsible for maintaining student safety. Parents/guardians should contact the nonprofit directly with any questions and/or concerns.