Volunteer: Join the Movement

Volunteers are the heart and soul of Austin Bicycle Meals. Your time and energy directly translate into warm meals and essential supplies for our neighbors. Find the role that's right for you below.

How You Can Help

  • Delivery Rider

    As a Delivery Rider, you are the heart of our connection to the community. You’ll meet at our weekly gathering spot to load your bike with fresh meals and essential supplies before riding out with a small team on a designated route. This role is about more than just delivery; it's about being a consistent, friendly face and building relationships with our unhoused neighbors. All types of bikes and skill levels are welcome. We do have bikes available to rent on a first come first serve basis.

    Learn More 

  • Support Crew

    The Support Crew is the critical foundation that makes every ride possible. Before the cyclists head out, this team is responsible for organizing supplies, packing meal kits, and ensuring every rider has what they need for a successful delivery. This is a non-riding role perfect for those who want to help in a hands-on, social, and organized way at our central meeting spot.

    Sign-Up to Help 

  • Community Cook

    The entire effort is fueled by the generosity of our Community Cooks. This role is perfect for individuals, families, or groups who want to contribute from their own homes or kitchens. You will prepare a specific number of meals, like sandwiches or baked goods, and coordinate a drop-off with our team. This is a flexible and deeply impactful way to ensure our neighbors receive fresh, homemade food.

    Sign-Up with Our Shared Kitchen 

General FAQ's

How long are the rides?

Saturday - Rides are typically an hour or hour and a half. The route goes from our meeting spot in South Congress into Downtown Austin and back. This ride is great for beginners with a total milage is around 5-6.

Wednesday - Rides are a bit longer, sometimes lasting 2-3 hours. The route goes from our meeting spot in South Congress into East Austin up Springdale Road and back. This ride is best for more advanced riders with a total milage around 15 miles.

What if I don't have a bike?

We have bikes available for rent on a first come first serve basis. Our bikes come in a variety of sizes and storage capacities, electrified and analog.

We also encourage help by car, or on other modes of transportation!

Where does the food come from?

The meals we distribute every week are made by another Keep Austin Neighborly partner: Our Shared Kitchen. The menu is constantly changing, and often comes with sweet treats. Meals often come with animal protein and avoid any common allergens.

Where do the rides go?

We have two rides that both begin and end at our headquarters in South Congress. We encourage volunteers to stay for as much or as little of the ride as possible. Volunteers are free to peel off whenever makes sense for them.

Saturday - Our ride rolls out at 2:00PM every Saturday. The route typically goes down Congress avenue towards the capitol building, U turns in front of the capitol, turns right on 3rd street towards the Austin Central Library, and often right back to South Congress.

Wednesday - The Wednesday ride rolls out every other week at 5:30PM. Our crew rolls out towards downtown, turning right on 3rd street towards Springdale in East Austin. There is a more exploratory nature to the Wednesday ride, allowing our volunteers to see and connect with new neighbors in new parts of the city. This ride does get dark in the wintertime, so bring your lights!

What to Expect as a Delivery Rider

As a Delivery Rider, you are the heart of our connection to the community. This role is about more than just delivery; it's about being a consistent, friendly face and building relationships with our unhoused neighbors.You’ll meet at our central meeting spot, typically a local bike shop, to load your bike with fresh meals and essential supplies.From there, you'll ride with a small team on an ever-changing route, as we adapt to the movement and needs of the community we serve. It's a direct, sustainable, and powerful way to make a difference, one pedal stroke at a time.

Delivery Rider FAQ's

Where do I sign-up?

There is no sign up sheet for delivery riders! Feel free to drop in whenever you can, without the anxiety of being locked in.

When should I show up?

Our rides roll out from our garage in the alley behind Life in the City Church in South Congress on 2:00PM every Saturday and 5:30PM every other Wednesday.

We encourage volunteers to show up 10-15 minutes before we roll out so they have ample time to load up before we roll out.

What kind of bike do I need?

While a simple crate attached to your bike can work, cargo bikes have greatly improved our efficiency. However, all bikes and skill levels are welcome.

What should I wear?

For safety, all volunteers are advised to wear proper attire, including helmets and close-toed shoes. We also provide custom safety vests to enhance visibility and promote awareness.

Just our Wednesday ride does get dark in the wintertime, bike lights or a headlamp are very good to have.

How are the routes determined?

Our bike routes are ever-changing due to the transient nature of encampments. We rely on insights from the community we serve to inform our routes each week. The ride leader will guide the group, prioritizing everyone's safety above all else.

What kind of supplies will I be delivering?

Beyond food and water, we distribute a range of mutual aid items based on the community's needs. This can include socks, toiletries, menstruation kits, dog food, sweet treats, and extreme weather supplies.

How many meals are people allowed to take?

There is no hard limit enforced on how much folks are allowed to take. Our neighbors are encouraged to take as much or as little as they would like, we are not forcing anything into anyone's hands. All that matters is that food and supplies are getting out to the communities that need them.

Can I bring stuff to pass out?

If you have in kind donations that you are interested in passing out, reach out to us and let us know first.

Our Current Needs

Wondering what we need most right now? Here’s today’s wish list.

Bike Maintenance

Our loaner bikes get a lot of use and require regular maintenance. If you'd like to help you can.

Bottled Water

With summer temperatures rising, keeping our neighbors hydrated is our top priority. We aim to distribute 200 bottles of water each week.