Collections at Wasabi 🍣

Q: What time should I arrive for my collection?

Head to the store at your scheduled collection time. Head over to the Volunteer Hub to check your collection time.

Q: Do I need to contact the store before arriving?

No, there's no need to call ahead. You will need to wait for a confirmation from the store through the squad chat. If they confirm there is food, you can head over to the store.

Q: What food will I receive at Wasabi?

Wasabi donates two types of food at end of day: hot freshly prepared items, and cold pre-packaged food such as onigiri, salads, and cold rolls. What's available will vary by site.

Q: What temperature does the food need to be?

Temperature rules depend on the type of food:

Hot food must be above 63°C when you collect it. Wasabi staff will probe items before handing them over to confirm they’re safe to donate.

Chilled food (sushi, cold rolls, salads etc.) must be below 5°C. Wasabi will only donate chilled items from their storage fridges - not from display fridges, which operate at a higher temperature.

If anything doesn’t meet these temperatures, please don’t take it and report the issue using the Issue Report Form.

Q: Can I take food from the display fridges?

No. Only take food that store staff hand directly to you. Chilled food must come from back storage fridges only - display fridges are not part of the donation. Don’t help yourself from any fridge or display area.

Q: Can I ask for extra food or items beyond the standard collection?

No. Only take what store staff hand to you. Staff have been briefed on what’s included in each donation and will give you what’s available. Don’t request additional items or take anything directly from display areas.

Q: Will I be asked to sign anything at the store?

No. You don’t need to sign any store paperwork as part of your collection — our volunteers are covered by Olio’s own food safety training. If you’re ever asked to sign a document you don’t recognise, decline politely and report it using the Issue Report Form.

Q: Do I need to list everything I collect?

Yes. All food you collect must be listed on the Olio app - this includes hot food. At least 90% of what you collect must be shared with the community.

Q: Can I keep some of the food for myself?

You’re welcome to keep up to 10% of what you collect for yourself or your household. Anything above that must be shared via the app.

Q: A staff member told me I don’t need to list hot food. Is that right?

No - all food collected through Olio must be listed on the app, regardless of whether it’s hot or cold. If store staff tell you otherwise, please don’t follow that instruction and report it straight away via the Issue Report Form or your squad chat. This helps us resolve any miscommunication with the store quickly.

Q: What should I do if there’s no food available when I arrive, even though the store confirmed?

Please report this via the Issue Report Form as soon as possible so we can follow up with the store directly.

Q: What if I’m not sure whether the food is safe to take?

Trust your judgement. If anything looks or feels wrong, or you have concerns about temperature, leave it and report the issue. You won’t be penalised for not collecting food that doesn’t meet safety standards.

Q: What if a staff member asks me to do something that doesn’t seem right?

Don’t follow instructions that conflict with your Olio training, and report the incident as soon as possible via the Issue Report Form. This includes being asked to sign documents, take food from display fridges, or not list items on the app.

Q: What if I miss my collection?

Wasabi is an important partner, so reliability matters. If you know in advance that you can’t attend, please let us know via your squad chat or by skipping your slot in the app. Missing a collection without reporting it in advance may result in a warning or removal from your slots.

Need help? Report any issues using the Issue Report Form or reach out via your squad chat.