No, you do not need to be home for delivery, however, we recommend it as all of the items are perishable. We cannot guarantee a delivery time, but we can tell you an estimate! You cab write to us on delivery day if you wish to know a closer time frame. If a customer is not home we make every attempt to get the canvas tote bag inside your building to be left at your door, but this is up to the driver's judgement if the canvas tote bag is safe to be left at the location.