Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
General
Q. What is Heart of Compassion?
A. Heart of Compassion (HOC) Distribution is a 501(c)(3) food bank and social service organization. HOC works to alleviate hunger, food insecurities and the suffering of those who have fallen on hard times.
Q. What does Heart of Compassion offer?
A. Heart of Compassion offers a weekly drive-thru food distribution, a Men's Recovery Home, classes, including men's anger management, forklift certification, CPR, ServSafe classes, and seasonal events throughout major holidays.
A. Heart of Compassion (HOC) Distribution is a 501(c)(3) food bank and social service organization. HOC works to alleviate hunger, food insecurities and the suffering of those who have fallen on hard times.
Q. What does Heart of Compassion offer?
A. Heart of Compassion offers a weekly drive-thru food distribution, a Men's Recovery Home, classes, including men's anger management, forklift certification, CPR, ServSafe classes, and seasonal events throughout major holidays.
Food Distributions
Q. What time is your food distribution?
A. Our food distributions are every Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:30 am to 11:00am. However, you will need to register from 8:00 am to 9:00 am on the day you intend to receive food.
Q. Where are you located?
A. We are located at 600 S. Maple Ave. Montebello, CA, 90640.
A. Our food distributions are every Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:30 am to 11:00am. However, you will need to register from 8:00 am to 9:00 am on the day you intend to receive food.
Q. Where are you located?
A. We are located at 600 S. Maple Ave. Montebello, CA, 90640.
Q. What do you typically give away?
A. Check out our Instagram! We frequently post reels about what you can expect at a giveaway. Usually, we have some household staples, produce, protein, and general merchandise.
Q. What is registration?
A. During registration (8:00 am to 9:00 am), volunteers will scan your ID with relative information.
Q. Where is registration?
A. Right around the corner to our site, on Mines Ave., directly across the street from ATC High School. Keep in mind, both registration and distribution will be in a drive-thru format.
Q. What do I need to bring for registration?
A. All you need is a form of identification, ideally in your car.
Q. I don't have an ID. Can I still go?
A. Yes! We also accept passports, or visas. Ask our volunteers if they will accept a certain type of identification.
Q. Do you have to be residents of Montebello?
A. No! We accept recipients as long as they are able to make it to our registration and distribution on time.
Q. I came too late and you ran out of time cards. What can I do?
A. If you came too late on a Tuesday, you can come again on Wednesday at an earlier time. OR you can register for a bag of emergency canned foods if you need food and can't come back another time during the week. If you take the emergency canned foods, you can't come back on Wednesday.
If you came too late on a Wednesday, you can register for emergency canned goods or come back another week.
Q. How many people do you accept per day?
A. We only have food for the first 200 families per day. Per week, we serve approximately 400 families.
Volunteering
Q. How can I get started volunteering at Heart of Compassion?
A. You are welcome to fill out the new volunteer form online at the following link (or you can fill out the form when you arrive at our warehouse): https://forms.gle/MdupFHPz9hVkimJ8
Q. What shifts are available?
A. We typically need most of our volunteers on Mondays between 9:00am and 11:00am and Tuesdays between 9:00 am and 12 pm.
Q. What volunteer opportunities are there at Heart of Compassion?
A. We have multiple opportunities for volunteers to make a difference in the local community! On Monday mornings, we rely on our volunteers to prepare fruits and veggies by bagging them to prepare them for our public food distributions. On Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, we need volunteers to register recipients before our food distributions, volunteers to assist with traffic control, and volunteers to load shopping carts and vehicles with groceries.
Q. Are children allowed to volunteer?
A. Due to safety reasons, only those 13 years or older are allowed to help with our public food distributions and only those 18 years or older are allowed to volunteer bagging produce inside our warehouse.
Q. What should I bring when I volunteer?
A. Please wear closed-toed shoes. If you are volunteering at one of our food distributions, we recommend wearing a hat, sunscreen, and tennis shoes because distributions take place outdoors.
Q. What should I expect the first time I volunteer?
A. Please check in to our office and let the office staff know that you are a new volunteer. We have you fill out a new volunteer application. You will also sign in and out on a computer in our office. (Please sign in and out in the office every time you volunteer with us.) You will be issued a safety vest to wear if you will be volunteering outside.
Q. Can I bring a friend?
A. Yes! We love new volunteers. Feel free to invite friends and relatives to volunteer with you. Also, please feel free to tag us on Instagram @heartofcompassionca or like us on Facebook and invite others to volunteer with us!
Q. Can I schedule a group volunteer day?
A. Yes! Please call or email us ahead of time to schedule a group volunteer day for your company or organization!
A. You are welcome to fill out the new volunteer form online at the following link (or you can fill out the form when you arrive at our warehouse): https://forms.gle/MdupFHPz9hVkimJ8
Q. What shifts are available?
A. We typically need most of our volunteers on Mondays between 9:00am and 11:00am and Tuesdays between 9:00 am and 12 pm.
Q. What volunteer opportunities are there at Heart of Compassion?
A. We have multiple opportunities for volunteers to make a difference in the local community! On Monday mornings, we rely on our volunteers to prepare fruits and veggies by bagging them to prepare them for our public food distributions. On Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, we need volunteers to register recipients before our food distributions, volunteers to assist with traffic control, and volunteers to load shopping carts and vehicles with groceries.
Q. Are children allowed to volunteer?
A. Due to safety reasons, only those 13 years or older are allowed to help with our public food distributions and only those 18 years or older are allowed to volunteer bagging produce inside our warehouse.
Q. What should I bring when I volunteer?
A. Please wear closed-toed shoes. If you are volunteering at one of our food distributions, we recommend wearing a hat, sunscreen, and tennis shoes because distributions take place outdoors.
Q. What should I expect the first time I volunteer?
A. Please check in to our office and let the office staff know that you are a new volunteer. We have you fill out a new volunteer application. You will also sign in and out on a computer in our office. (Please sign in and out in the office every time you volunteer with us.) You will be issued a safety vest to wear if you will be volunteering outside.
Q. Can I bring a friend?
A. Yes! We love new volunteers. Feel free to invite friends and relatives to volunteer with you. Also, please feel free to tag us on Instagram @heartofcompassionca or like us on Facebook and invite others to volunteer with us!
Q. Can I schedule a group volunteer day?
A. Yes! Please call or email us ahead of time to schedule a group volunteer day for your company or organization!
Court-Ordered Community Service
Q. I've been referred by the court. Can I do community service with Heart of Compassion?
A. Yes, our food distribution organization does provide volunteering opportunities towards Court-Referred Community Service.
Q. What time can I come in?
A. Our office hours are generally M-F from 8:00-3:30. We advise you to come in during that time frame to complete a New Volunteer Registration Form. You must successfully register with staff prior to completing any hours.
Q. Where are you located?
A. Our main office is located at 600 S. Maple Ave. Montebello, CA, 90640. Upon entering, follow the signs to the end of the parking lot to the second set of stairs.
Q. What do I need to bring when doing community service?
A. If you have been referred by a Community Service Agency (CSA), also known as a Volunteer Center, please come with your Timesheet/Progress Report. If you have not been referred by a CSA, that is okay as well. Please check in at the office upon your arrival so that we can properly onboard you and get you started!
A. Yes, our food distribution organization does provide volunteering opportunities towards Court-Referred Community Service.
Q. What time can I come in?
A. Our office hours are generally M-F from 8:00-3:30. We advise you to come in during that time frame to complete a New Volunteer Registration Form. You must successfully register with staff prior to completing any hours.
Q. Where are you located?
A. Our main office is located at 600 S. Maple Ave. Montebello, CA, 90640. Upon entering, follow the signs to the end of the parking lot to the second set of stairs.
Q. What do I need to bring when doing community service?
A. If you have been referred by a Community Service Agency (CSA), also known as a Volunteer Center, please come with your Timesheet/Progress Report. If you have not been referred by a CSA, that is okay as well. Please check in at the office upon your arrival so that we can properly onboard you and get you started!