Court-Related Volunteer Service
At Food for Others, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to give back to their community and make a positive impact.
Volunteers may complete service hours at Food for Others in support of legal or court-related requirements. This includes service that is:
- Recommended by an attorney before court
- Completed in lieu of confinement or other penalties
- Required to support dismissal or reduction of charges
- Otherwise connected to a legal matter
All court-related volunteer requests are evaluated under the same policy framework. Volunteers must be pre-approved by the Volunteer Services Team before completing any hours related to court matters. All court-related volunteer hours must be completed on-site at Food for Others.
Hour Verification
We are happy to provide verification of completed volunteer hours on letterhead and/or volunteer transcripts as needed throughout your legal process. Verification can be provided in paper or electronic format, and we are able to email documentation and copy attorneys, probation officers, or other relevant parties when requested.
To ensure we can process your request accurately, at least one business day of advance notice is required for all verification requests. While preparing documentation is typically straightforward, our team manages a full volunteer schedule and may not be able to accommodate same-day requests.
Hour verification in support of legal matters will not be provided if:
- A volunteer was not approved in advance for court-related service, or
- A volunteer has misrepresented their volunteer purpose or legal situation.
Eligibility Requirements
Due to the nature of our work and the populations we serve, we cannot accept volunteers with pending or past charges related to the following:
- Drug manufacturing or trafficking
- Sexual assault, indecent exposure, or other sexually motivated crimes
- Child pornography, exploitation, or abuse
- Assault or battery (within 10 years)
- Stalking or harassment
- Illegal possession of a firearm or other weapons offenses
- Any other violent, threatening, or intimidating behavior
Food for Others reserves the right to deny volunteer participation based on other charges or criminal histories at the discretion of the Volunteer Services Team.
Residency Requirement
Due to challenges verifying charges and ensuring consistent participation, we can only accept volunteers who:
- Live in Virginia, and
- Have a Virginia-based legal case.
We are unable to accept out-of-state cases and cannot accept volunteers traveling from out-of-state [includes Washington, D.C. and Maryland] for court-related service.
Accurate Information
When creating your volunteer account, all information must be accurate and up to date.
Any misrepresentation of:
- Personal identity
- Volunteer intent
- Criminal history
may result in removal from Food for Others volunteer service and revocation of accrued volunteer hours.
The Volunteer Services Team may request documentation to verify identity or case information and/or schedule a brief phone screening when necessary.
Getting Started
Please create a volunteer account using your full legal name and birthdate.
During registration, select: “Pre-Court, Lawyer Suggested, or Court Appointed Community Service” as your primary motivation for volunteering.
Note: Shift availability changes frequently as volunteers update their schedules. We encourage you to check the calendar regularly for newly available shifts.