Join Our Kitchen Team & Help Fuel Retreat


Kadampa Meditation Center New York is seeking dedicated volunteers to help us prepare delicious vegan and vegetarian meals for the below retreats. This is a wonderful way to get to take part in our retreats for free while also providing nurturing food for the retreat. If you have kitchen experience, especially in chopping and food prep, we would love to have you on our team! You must arrive on the Wednesday before the retreat starts to help with food preparation. You can volunteer only for the duration of event or extend you volunteer visit — if you want to stay longer, please request when you apply.

We will provide free dorm accommodation and you can attend event you are here for free of charge. We will do our best to arrange your work around the event schedule, however from time to time, you may have to miss a session if that’s needed to complete your task. 

Retreats We Need Kitchen Help For: 

  • December 26 – 31: Spiritual Vitality & Long Life: The Blessing Empowerment of Buddha Amitayus, Teachings & Retreat with Gen Samten | Arrival Time: Wednesday, Dec 24th to be ready to work on Thursday, Dec 25th

  • January 2 – 4, 2025: Creating a Meditation Habit that Sticks with Kadam Michelle Gauthier | Arrival Time: Wednesday, Dec 31st to be ready to work on Thursday, Jan 1st

  • January 10 – February 20, 2025: Six-Week Oral Instructions of Mahamudra Retreat with Gen Samten | Arrival Time: Wednesday, Jan 7th to be ready to work on Thursday, Jan 8th

Group of smiling women wearing aprons and name tags cooking outdoors under a canopy with trees in the background.

Volunteer Responsibilities

Food Preparation: Chopping vegetables, fruits, and other ingredients.

Meal Assembly: Assisting in the assembly of various dishes according to our recipes.

Kitchen Maintenance: Keeping the kitchen clean and organized, including washing dishes and sanitizing surfaces.

Team Collaboration: Working closely with our chef and other volunteers to ensure a smooth and efficient workflow.

Your Qualifications:

You have some basic kitchen experience, particularly with chopping and food prep.

You’re enthusiastic about vegetarian and vegan cuisine and eager to learn more.

You can commit to a regular volunteer schedule.

You are a team player with good communication skills.

You have a positive attitude and a willingness to help wherever needed.

Smiling man wearing a hat, sunglasses, and gloves kneeling outdoors, using a caulking gun on a gravel surface with greenery in the background.

How to Apply

If you’re ready to join our team and contribute to a healthier, more compassionate community, you can fill out our Volunteer Visitor Application or email our volunteer coordinator at volunteervisits@kadampanewyork.org