Community Fruit Rescue Volunteer Participation Handbook & Agreement

Welcome

Thank you for volunteering with Community Fruit Rescue (CFR)!

By harvesting surplus fruit, you're helping reduce food waste, increase access to fresh, healthy food, support wildlife coexistence, and strengthen our community.

Community Fruit Rescue welcomes volunteers of all ages, backgrounds, identities, abilities, and experience levels. Whether this is your first harvest or your fiftieth, we are grateful you're here. We are committed to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome.

This handbook outlines what you can expect from volunteering with Community Fruit Rescue and the shared expectations that help make every harvest safe, enjoyable, and successful.

Our Shared Responsibility

Community Fruit Rescue harvests are successful because everyone works together.

  • Tree Stewards generously share their fruit and welcome volunteers onto their property.
  • Volunteers donate their time and energy to harvest fruit for the community.
  • Harvest Leaders are volunteers who help coordinate safe, organized, and enjoyable harvests.
  • Community Fruit Rescue provides training, resources, and support for everyone involved.

By working together with kindness, respect, and care, we create positive harvest experiences while reducing food waste and sharing fresh fruit with our community.

Code of Conduct

To help create a welcoming and positive experience for everyone, I agree to:

Treat everyone with respect.

Be kind, courteous, and respectful to fellow volunteers, Harvest Leaders, tree stewards, neighbors, staff, community partners, and members of the public.

Help create an inclusive community.

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome. Discrimination, harassment, bullying, intimidation, or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.

Follow safety guidance.

Listen to and follow instructions provided by Harvest Leaders and staff, including the harvest orientation at the beginning of each event. Ask questions if you are unsure how to safely use equipment or complete a task.

Respect private property.

Most Community Fruit Rescue harvests take place on private residential property. Tree stewards generously share their fruit and give Community Fruit Rescue permission to enter their property for the purpose of harvesting.

As a volunteer, I understand that I am a guest on someone else's property. I agree to:

  • Respect the tree steward's home, privacy, landscaping, belongings, and personal space.
  • Remain only in approved harvest areas.
  • Follow any property-specific instructions provided by the tree steward or Harvest Leader.
  • Leave the property clean and help return tools and equipment when the harvest is complete.
  • Treat every harvest site as I would hope someone would treat my own home.

Participate responsibly.

When I sign up for a harvest, I am making a commitment to the tree steward, Harvest Leader, and other volunteers who are planning the event.

I agree to:

  • Cancel my harvest registration as soon as possible if I am no longer able to attend so another volunteer may participate.
  • Arrive on time and ready to participate at the scheduled start time.
  • Participate for the duration of the harvest whenever possible, understanding that harvests typically last about two hours.
  • Communicate with the Harvest Leader if an unexpected situation prevents me from arriving on time or staying for the full harvest.

Support Community Fruit Rescue's mission.

Help create a positive experience that reflects Community Fruit Rescue's values of service, respect, inclusion, stewardship, and community.

Community Fruit Rescue reserves the right to end a volunteer's participation if behavior is unsafe, disrespectful, discriminatory, harassing, or otherwise inconsistent with these expectations.

Participation & Safety

Harvesting fruit is an outdoor activity that involves physical work and changing environmental conditions.

Volunteer activities may include:

  • Climbing ladders.
  • Using harvesting and pruning tools.
  • Lifting, carrying, and transporting fruit or equipment.
  • Walking on uneven ground.
  • Exposure to insects, wildlife, plants, allergens, weather, and other natural conditions.
  • Traveling to and from harvest locations.

To help keep everyone safe, I agree to:

  • Participate voluntarily and within my own physical abilities.
  • Wear appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes.
  • Follow ladder and tool safety instructions.
  • Notify a Harvest Leader immediately if I observe an unsafe condition or someone becomes injured.
  • Stop any activity that feels unsafe and ask for assistance.

Children & Youth Participation

Community Fruit Rescue welcomes volunteers of all ages, and we encourage families to participate together whenever appropriate.

To help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone:

  • Volunteers age 18 and older must register individually and agree to this Volunteer Participation Handbook & Agreement.
  • Volunteers ages 16–17 may register individually, but a parent or legal guardian must agree to this Volunteer Participation Handbook & Agreement on their behalf.
  • Children under 16 are welcome to participate when accompanied by a registered parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult chaperone who accepts responsibility for supervising them throughout the harvest.
  • Parents, legal guardians, or responsible adult chaperones are responsible for the safety, supervision, and behavior of any minor in their care throughout the harvest. Minors must remain under their direct supervision at all times and follow all instructions provided by Harvest Leaders.
  • Some harvests are better suited for children than others depending on factors such as tree size, terrain, and the type of fruit being harvested. If you're planning to bring children and have questions about whether a particular harvest is a good fit, please contact Community Fruit Rescue before registering.

Harvest Guidelines

To help ensure a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable experience for volunteers, tree stewards, and community members, I agree that I will:

  • Not smoke during Community Fruit Rescue activities.
  • Not bring alcohol to harvests or participate while impaired by alcohol or other substances.
  • Not bring glass containers to harvest sites.
  • Not bring pets to harvests. Service animals are welcome and should be communicated to Community Fruit Rescue in advance so we can support a safe and successful harvest experience.

These guidelines help us maintain safe, welcoming harvest environments for volunteers, tree stewards, and community members.

Understanding the Risks & Release of Liability

I understand that participating in Community Fruit Rescue activities involves inherent risks that cannot be completely eliminated, including risks associated with outdoor work, equipment use, private property, and changing environmental conditions.

I voluntarily choose to participate and knowingly accept these risks.

In consideration of being permitted to participate in Community Fruit Rescue activities, I voluntarily release and hold harmless Community Fruit Rescue, its directors, officers, employees, Harvest Leaders, volunteers, agents, partnering organizations, and the owners or authorized occupants of properties where Community Fruit Rescue activities take place (collectively, the "Released Parties") from any claims, demands, damages, losses, liabilities, or causes of action arising out of or relating to my voluntary participation, including personal injury, illness, death, or property damage, except to the extent caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct where such limitation is not permitted by applicable law.

I understand that many Community Fruit Rescue activities take place on private residential property with the permission of the property owner or occupant. I acknowledge that I am entering these properties voluntarily, agree to follow the directions of Harvest Leaders and property owners while on site, and understand that I am responsible for acting safely and respectfully at all times.

I further understand that I am responsible for my own actions while volunteering. If my negligent or intentional actions cause injury to another person or damage to property, I understand that I may be held legally responsible for those actions as provided by law.

Emergency Medical Authorization

If I become injured or experience a medical emergency during a Community Fruit Rescue activity and emergency contacts cannot be reached promptly, I authorize Community Fruit Rescue staff, Harvest Leaders, or emergency responders to obtain appropriate emergency medical care on my behalf.

I understand that I am responsible for any resulting medical expenses.

Photography & Media

Community Fruit Rescue occasionally takes photographs or videos during volunteer activities to help share our work with the community, recognize volunteers, support fundraising efforts, and promote our programs.

By registering as a Community Fruit Rescue volunteer, I provide permission for photographs, video, or other media captured during volunteer activities that include my image or likeness to be used by Community Fruit Rescue for educational, promotional, outreach, and fundraising purposes.

If I prefer not to be photographed or have my image used, I can let the Harvest Leader know when I arrive at a harvest or contact Community Fruit Rescue at harvest@fruitrescue.org before participating. CFR will make reasonable efforts to honor these requests.

Volunteer Agreement

By registering as a volunteer and checking the agreement box during registration, I acknowledge that:

  • I have read and understand this Volunteer Participation Handbook & Agreement.
  • I have had the opportunity to ask questions before participating.
  • I understand that volunteering is voluntary and agree to follow the Code of Conduct and participation expectations outlined above.
  • I understand and voluntarily accept the inherent risks of participating.
  • I agree to the Release of Liability and other terms described in this agreement.