Farm Fresh Rhode Island seeks an outgoing and energetic Volunteer Accessibility AmeriCorps VISTA Member with demonstrated initiative and clear organizational skills to join our Hope’s Harvest team. Hope’s Harvest mobilizes volunteers to rescue food from local farms that would otherwise go to waste and distributes it to local hunger relief agencies. Hope’s Harvest also contracts with farmers and purchases surplus for the purposes of hunger relief. This position offers a unique opportunity to increase capacity for volunteer management and accessibility within the context of the Hope’s Harvest’s food rescue program. This position requires a one-year commitment to begin on June 20, 2023. Application deadline is April 28, 2023.
Program Summary
One in three Rhode Islanders rely on the emergency food system to meet their basic needs, a sharp increase since the previous year. In 2022, Hope’s Harvest rescued over 220,000 lb. of fresh, nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables from local farms and delivered it to over 35,000 individuals a month via our network of emergency food providers. In 2023-24, we expect that Hope’s Harvest will rescue and distribute even more produce to our neighbors in need, while also supporting a robust network of volunteers and farms that make this work possible. Hope’s Harvest also operates additional hunger relief efforts at Farm Fresh RI, a food hub with many different programs working together to build a stronger food system for RI and the New England region.
Primary Responsibilities
- Improve Farm Fresh RI’s capacity to fully utilize volunteers within the context of the Hope’s Harvest food rescue program by creating user friendly manuals for our systems for volunteer recruitment, tracking, management, and acknowledgement.
- Make gleaning activities more accessible to low-income, aging, and BIPOC community members who lack transportation and/or other resources to participate in gleaning activities.
- Refine and update a comprehensive communications strategy for the Hope’s Harvest food rescue program.
- Design social media content, stories, and copy to better reach and mobilize our unique network of volunteers, agencies, farms, and community partners — increasing connection and resource sharing.
- Engage in awareness-raising and education when interfacing with volunteers during gleaning trips, strengthening our capacity to work within an evolving food system.
- Research and utilize data systems, leverage technology, and create user friendly manuals to be able to create more robust reports and better support our growing network of community partners.
Essential Functions
- Excellent professional communication skills (written and verbal)
- Great attention to detail
- Self starter and ability to maintain a self-motivating attitude
- Ability to collaborate and work as part of a team
- Excellent time-management skills
- Ability to think, react, iterate, and redirect in a fast-paced environment
- Comfort and facility driving large vehicles (training available)
- Must be able to lift 50 lb.
- Ability to prioritize and handle a variety of assignments simultaneously in a vibrant work environment
- Willingness to work hands-on in various environments (outdoors at farms, inside at office)
- Some experience with farming or gardening in a professional capacity (internships, academic learning/service, or consistent volunteer work on a farm or in a community garden setting would qualify)
- Comfort with technology and data systems
Non-Essential Functions
- Experience with CRM (Salesforce) and/or training a plus.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite preferred.
- Spanish skills or other language skills are strongly desired for this role.
Term of Service & Hour Requirements
Full-year VISTA members must commit to a full week, approx. 36-40 hour/week AmeriCorps full-time service term from June 20 2023 to June 19 2024.
Primary working hours will be Monday- Friday 8-4 with ability to work early evenings or weekends as needed. Member schedules can be flexible, and they will be in regular conversation about schedules with their direct supervisor.
Members will be given the opportunity to fulfill all service hour requirements while also allowing for holidays, sick leave, and PTO. Missed hours can be made up on site or off site depending on supervisor approval. All Members must participate in AmeriCorps national, state and local service projects as a part of their service term.
Orientation, Training & Evaluation
Members will receive one-on-one trainings on AmeriCorps program impacts, history, and prohibited activities, as well as an orientation to local food systems and food justice topics addressed by Hope’s Harvest RI programs. Training will not exceed more than 20% of the members total service hours completed.
AmeriCorps VISTA Member Benefits
- Bi-weekly (every two weeks) living allowance of $675.08
- $600 monthly rent stipend
- Monthly bus pass
- Student loan deferment
- Mileage reimbursement
- Professional development opportunities
- CNCS health benefit & childcare assistance
- $6,895 Segal Education Award upon completion of service to help pay for college, graduate school, or vocational training, or to repay student loans
To Apply
This is a full year position starting on June 20, 2023 and ending June 19, 2024. The deadline to apply is 4/28/2023.
- To apply, please visit americorps.gov/about/programs/vista.asp and review the AmeriCorps VISTA information on that site.
- Then go to my.americorps.gov/mp/login.do and click Search Listings. For the search, select the Rhode Island and AmeriCorps VISTA options.
- Scroll until you find this position, click on it, and click Apply Now. Submit your application including two references.
- Applications must be submitted through this AmeriCorps VISTA site. Farm Fresh RI cannot accept applications directly.
- No calls or walk-ins please.
About AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs, made up of three primary programs that each take a different approach to improving lives and fostering civic engagement. AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members bring passion and perseverance where the need is greatest: to organizations that help eradicate poverty. AmeriCorps VISTA members serve as a catalyst for change, living and working alongside community members to meet our nation’s most pressing challenges and advance local solutions.
Organizational Info
Strongly mission-driven, Farm Fresh achieved 501c3 status in 2007, and has since implemented a variety of programs to enhance the local food system of Rhode Island and the New England region, with particular attention to farm viability and low-income access to fresh food.
Mission: Farm Fresh Rhode Island is growing a local food system that values the environment, health, and quality of life of farmers and eaters.
Vision: A New England region abundant with diverse family farms and fertile soils, with locally and honestly produced foods and flavors at the heart of every dinner table.
Farm Fresh Rhode Island is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment for all employees. We encourage enquiries from candidates who will enrich and contribute to the cultural and ethnic diversity of our organization. Farm Fresh RI does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, religion, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, or disability status in employment or programming. Farm Fresh Rhode Island is an Equal Opportunity Provider.
Farm Fresh Rhode Island is an AmeriCorps grantee and receives funds as part of their State and National program, and to operate our VISTA program.