Get Involved volunteers & interns

Tree of New America is dedicated to teaching the critical aspects of food rescue and sustainability and welcomes volunteers and interns who want to help expand food access and promote mental health and wellness through nutrition. We offer hands-on opportunities to contribute to community-based food programs while gaining meaningful experience in service, collaboration, and shared learning.
Through mentorship and practical engagement, Tree of New America supports students and volunteers in developing leadership skills rooted in care, responsibility, and sustainability—preparing them to become thoughtful contributors to community-based food systems.

Meet Kalyana Kimpo
Kalyana Kimpo, a student at Chapman University in Orange, California, discovered Tree of New America through social media and reached out to learn more about our work. Introductory email enquiry She became our first intern, contributing through service learning and academic engagement.

As part of her coursework, Kalyana developed the following materials in collaboration with Tree of New America:
Service Learning Project Presentation - Tree of New America
Service Learning Project Paper - Tree of New America

Meet Ali Ahsan
Ali Ahsan is a student at the University of California, Irvine, graduating in Spring 2025 with a B.S. in Psychology. He is currently pursuing a post-bachelors pre-medical program with aspirations toward a career in medicine.

Ali became Tree of New America’s first volunteer and continues to work with the organization today. Since January 2025, he has played an instrumental role in the program’s development, contributing to logistics, photography, videography, and general program support. Drawing on his commitment to serving underserved communities, Ali now supports proposal development and grant writing to help expand the program’s reach.

Get Involved learning through participation

Volunteers and interns at Tree of New America gain experience in:  - Supporting sustainable food distribution initiatives  - Community outreach and partnership-building  - Public communications and storytelling that highlight partner work  - Assisting with Mobile-PopUp food pantry and community TableTop-PopUp cooking eventsFor students, internship opportunities may be eligible for course credit depending on institutional requirements.

Get Involved student & community engagement

Tree of New America is committed to cultivating the next generation of community leaders. Through mentorship and hands-on participation, volunteers and interns learn about food rescue, sustainability, and the role of reliable care in strengthening community well-being.
Our volunteer community includes students and community members who contribute skills in logistics, documentation, outreach, and program support—working alongside partners to expand access to nutritious food in underserved communities.
We welcome creative thinkers and problem solvers who want to contribute to food access, sustainability, and community care. Internship opportunities are available, and some schools may offer course credit for participation.
If you are interested in volunteering or completing an internship, please contact us at: volunteer@treeofnewamerica.com

Get Involved stories from the field

Tree of New America documents community-based work through short-form and long-form storytelling developed with the support of volunteers and interns. These materials reflect real-time collaboration, learning, and the collective effort required to care for communities experiencing food insecurity. Selected media projects, including the ongoing documentary series What It Takes to Care for a Village are available in the Press Room.