Should I leave my job over this?

Well as Bluebelle says, your second post kind of indicates that you are not happy volunteering there anyway so I think you have your answer?

Your initial post seemed to me to indicate that you quite liked being there but didn't like the way you were spoken to about your lunch?. Posters weren't telling you off - they were just saying that, in their opinion, it was unreasonable of you to start work and immediately think of eating (or leaving to buy something to eat?) A cafe is especially busy at lunch time so we all understood the pressures everyone would have been under.

Your second post indicates you are not happy full stop so I think Bluebelle has a point. Unless we are aware of the full facts it is so difficult to give proper advice. Your initial post asks if you should leave your job over this? I say NO...you should leave your job because you don't like it.

Good luck with the WVS and am sure there are lots of other great opportunities. FWIW I was sent to a charity shop as part of a work commitment..... I thought it would be a doddle - like being at a jumble sale. Boy was I WRONG.....those volunteers work so hard; sorting, cleaning, pressing, grading, pricing etc I had a new-found respect for anyone who volunteers t.b.h.

Sounds like a rather trying place to work and as you don't have to, I think I would give it a miss. Which is sounds like you are considering anyway. I think I would have turned up after having an early lunch to be full of enough energy to get going. I can see the cooks point of view, rushed off their feet, hot and bothered. But the management sound a bit hard core and at the end of the day you don't have to be there.

Why didn't you take a sandwich or similar with you it would have avoided all this fuss. Once again I ask "Is there such a thing as true altruism"?

I absolutely cannot believe the rudeness on here.

The OP is aged 65, giving up her time and her skills and her experience for nothing.

As for the " you've been there 3 months comment...... Do people gain extra power due to longevity of service?

It is a golden rule in kitchens that you try not to bother the chefs at their busiest service time so I think that it was just bad timing and it probably resulted in both sides thinking that the other was being inconsiderate.
As others have said it was a very hot day. I couldn't get off the sofa never mind work in a hot kitchen.
I can understand you feeling insulted. You are doing the organisation a favour but not the chefs personally and I think you should try to put yourself in their shoes. They should do the same but it is not the chefs that are thinking of leaving. From their point of view you just walked in and immediate effectively gave them a food order. I know that wasn't the way it was meant but that doesn't really help.
If you cannot do that, then sleep on it a few nights and see how you feel. I wouldn't leave immediately after getting angry because that is just never a good time to make a decision. If you still don't like being there then you might as well leave but you could look around for something else and then weigh up your choices.

Well I don't think it was fair that you were spoken to like that Sunnysusie (regardless of the situation of whether you had eaten). There is no excuse for the rudeness - especially as you are a volunteer there giving up your free time. I would address this point with the person who was rude to me (if it was me) and if it couldnt be sorted amicably then I'm afraid I would be off and out of it - church or not. There are other places/organisation where no doubt your time would be more valued as a volunteer - and where you are treated far better.

People usually volunteer to help a cause they feel needs their help as well as to meet people. I am surprised that a four hour shift warrants a meal instead of a coffee and biscuit at the charity/church's expense. If I knew I was going to be starting a shift hungry I would have packed a sandwich and fruit early, you can get nifty little sandwich cool containers now, and popped it into my bag to eat in a spare moment. The kitchen staff were probably feeling pretty frazzled and snapped, that's life.

I’m involved with a community cafe staffed by paid staff and volunteers. Standards have to be maintained as strictly as if it were a five star restaurant. Tables must be cleaned and cleared immediately. Just because it’s a charity, it must be run professionally. Volunteering in a cafe is not like other jobs which can be more flexible and friendly, so I would advise you to leave and do something you enjoy. I would also add that, yes, the atmosphere is fraught in our cafe especially on a hot day and we do not provide free food to anyone in the building whether they be working in the cafe or in the office. As a charity we need every penny and can’t afford to lose money on food. We all pay the, reasonable, going price.

Squiffy
I did read ALL the OP's post.

If you don't like the working conditions you know where the door is.
I too would take umbrage if I was mithered about providing food the minute a recently recruited volunteer starts their shift.

Whilst you possibly should have eaten prior to getting there I wouldn’t put up with being spoken to harshly. You are a volunteer and I dare say there are plenty of other things you could do with your time. I would attend my next shift, ask to speak to the person in charge in private, and quietly and calmly explain that you were not here to be insulted and so you wouldn’t be coming back. There are numerous places where your voluntary help will be appreciated.

I don't think there was anything wrong in asking for them to put a baked potato on one side for you.
I would leave and find another outlet for your charitable nature, one where you are appreciated.
I also think some of the comments are harsh. I wouldn't be spoken to like that if I was being paid so I darn well wouldn't put up with it for free!
People are different regarding food, some can go all day on a cup a soup, others need something more substantial.

I'm afraid I wouldn't give up my valuable time to this job if they won't save a baked potato for later in the shift.
Have you thought of somewhere else where you can start later in the afternoon so you have time to eat between jobs,maybe story time at a local library where you will meet other people or something similar.

As a volunteer in a hospice I consider my time with clients in the same professional way I considered my duties with students when I was in paid employment. If I had lecturers from 11.00 until 2.00 that was the time when I was on duty. I went prepared to be locked in a lecture theatre for three hours. The same goes for my volunteering work. When I arrive I am ready to give my time and that doesn't include grabbing a coffee and croissant to sustain me. I am prepared. So, I agree with many other people, don't turn up to a shift feeling hungry and putting your need for lunch before the work you have volunteered to do.

If it was me I would have gone , find something better to do . You don't have to tolerate anything you don't like if its not for a wage. It certainly won't do your confidence or self esteem any good staying .

Don't leave the job and the good work you do. No one needed to seize on the fact you'd forgotten to eat in a way that would hurt you. Let it go and well done being a volunteer indeed.

I think I would consider finding another volunteering position instead of the cafe. Regardless of whether or not you had eaten beforehand as you say you are allowed a break (with food) when doing a certain amount of hours. ...rudeness is not acceptable. As for not being able to talk to others ...well find something else you enjoy. I don,t know if you are aware but local CABs usually have lists of volunteering positions within your area...hopefully you will find something else you enjoy...don,t stay if it is going to make you miserable as you will then start to dread going ....good luck whatever you decide on.

I somehow missed your second post when I replied. It doesn't sound worth it unless you can list a few things that you are getting from the job. I would definitely want to know where the money is going to. Also, it is not only a case of the way they speak to you but the way they seem to be treating the paid staff. You will probably get a gut feeling after sleeping on it and I would say go with it but if it is to stay, it sounds as if something has to change and it is a little difficult to see how you have any chance of effecting that. There is usually such a need for volunteers that you should hopefully be able to find something a bit more relaxed and friendly. It may be that the owners or managers are creating a tense atmosphere and it got passed down the line.
Good luck any way.

GabriellaG As you emphasised that you read all the OP, then I don't understand your comment! You can't, in all fairness, expect to sit and have a lunch break before starting work

I wasn't being critical, merely pointing out what the OP said, as I thought you'd missed that relevant point

The OP says popped into the kitchen to ask if they could save me a baked spud for my lunch - which implies to me that she didn't expect to be fed as soon as she arrived and was happy to wait until she'd worked part of her shift and was entitled to a break!

I hugely admire all volunteers. Racing round trying to get all the jobs done before you've made a commitment to be somewhere by a certain time is a tough ask when you are in paid employment (ask any working mum), but when you're doing it for nothing.... You and all like you are stars, SunnySusie.

There are lots and lots of volunteering jobs in a multitude of places. Those that want loyal, hardworking and efficient volunteers need to treat them well or they won't get them!
Just find another role with another organisation.

If you have a busy morning and are starting work at 12 how on earth are you supposed to eat lunch first! I don't think 10 minutes is adequate - it needs to be at least half an hour around the 2-2:30pm time. It sounds as if they are short of volunteers - perhaps they ought to ask themselves why?!

Don't take any s**t sunnysusie I'm surprised at the attitude of the catering staff having worked in catering for over 20 years. In my cafes staff ALWAYS come first - it's a matter of moments to put a baked spud to one side never mind the attitude. If they treat their volunteers this way God knows what the general ambience of the place is. It seems you weren't disrespectful in any way just trying to be efficient and organised for later on. I'd tell them to stick their spuds where the sun don't shine and find yourself a nicer environment in which to offer your (free) services.

I think you were a little unreasonable expecting food the minute you arrived. Were there other workers waiting for lunch? I accept it's a volunteer job but I'm afraid even volunteers nowadays do have to adhere to similar policies as paid workers. When I was working I certainly couldn't have arrived at work and immediately taken a lunch break. If you are enjoying the work otherwise please don't quit.

A she wasn't expecting food as soon as she arrived.
B volunteers don't have to adhere to similar policies - they simply walk out if they are not treated politely and with consideration.