Hope’s Harvest RI seeks a full-time, seasonal Food Rescue AmeriCorps direct service member, who will support the rescue of surplus food from local farms and its distribution to food insecure individuals and families throughout Rhode Island. They will recruit and manage volunteers, lead food rescue (gleaning) trips, conduct program evaluations via data tracking and survey administration, create and disseminate volunteer and stakeholder communications via online newsletters and social media, and assist with annual volunteer engagement events and activities. Hope’s Harvest RI is fiscally sponsored by Farm Fresh RI, a food hub with many different programs working together to build a stronger food system in Rhode Island. Members must commit to a full time 25 weeks of service, from April 5 to September 26, 2021. The application deadline is March 1st, 2021. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Primary Responsibilities
Volunteer recruitment and management:
- Conduct volunteer recruitment via online networking (webinars, newsletters, listservs) while virtual and at farmers markets, fairs/festivals, and other related community events when applicable during pandemic restrictions
- Reach out to local organizations, companies, colleges, and faith-based groups to schedule and hold recruitment and outreach events, online or in person when able
- Onboard and provide training to all incoming volunteers to improve likelihood and quality of participation in gleaning activities
- Update and ensure accurate volunteer data in CRM database
- Communicate regularly with volunteers via newsletters and social media
- Develop relevant newsletter content to share with our mailing list
- Stay up to date with current research and relevant information related to farm surplus rescue and management to inform communications activities
Lead food rescue trips:
- Lead regular gleaning trips on farms throughout the harvest season, including pre- and post-trip administration
- Deliver food to hunger relief agency partners, ensuring compliance with Hope’s Harvest RI food safety SOPs
- When working with volunteers, provide educational opportunities for ongoing learning about food systems, hunger relief, farming, and social justice, working towards greater literacy among our community and network
- Track accomplishments and outcomes of food rescue operations
- Document gleaning activities by taking photos in the field and uploading to the HHRI drive to use in communications and development materials
Communications and development:
- Write blog posts detailing program activities to share on social media and our website
- Support content creation for social media platforms to support ongoing stakeholder engagement and increase community awareness of program activities and impact
- Support planning and logistics for annual volunteer orientation event in the spring
Program tracking and evaluation:
- Log all program activities and participation utilizing custom CRM database
- Track key indicators and metrics (i.e. lbs of food rescued, volunteer hours, etc.), run regular reports, and update dashboards
- Support administration of end-user beneficiary survey to better understand the impact of Hope’s Harvest RI program activities on food security indicators
- Support additional stakeholder input gathering and analysis via online survey tools
Essential Skills
- Must have high school diploma/GED, college degree or working towards one preferred but not required
- Be at least 17 years of age at the time of position commencement
- Must be a US Citizen, U.S. National, or Permanent Resident and be able to provide documentation of citizenship
- Must be willing to undergo a National Criminal History Background Check
- Willing to work occasional weekends during the harvest season (at least 1-2x per month)
- Able to build relationships with people from varied cultural, economic, educational, racial, and religious backgrounds.
- Able to bend and lift loads up to 60 pounds repetitively
- Must hold a clean driving record, valid driver’s license, and reliable transportation
- Must uphold AmeriCorps state and national branding and uniform standards
- A self-starter and have the ability to maintain a self-motivating attitude
- Able to collaborate and work as part of a team
- Able to think, react, iterate, and redirect in a fast-paced environment
- Strong and evolving commitment to anti-racism and actively confronting white supremacy as an end in itself and as a means towards liberation for all people.
- Comfortable working in farm fields in all types of New England weather. This typically includes hot and humid summer days, wet and cold autumn, and early winter conditions
Non-Essential Skills
- Experience with CRM (Salesforce,) and/or training a plus
- Excellent professional communication skills (written and verbal) preferred
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite preferred
- Spanish skills or other language skills are a plus
- Background in adult education, leading volunteer/tour groups, and/or organizing service work teams.
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. Members commit their time to address critical community needs like increasing academic achievement, mentoring youth, and fighting poverty. Members commit to a fixed term of service and receive a weekly living allowance and end of service education award.
Terms of Service & Hours Requirement
Members must commit to a full-time 25 weeks, approx. 32-38hour/week AmeriCorps service term from April 5, 2021 to September 26, 2021 — totaling 900 hours of service.
Members must have the ability to work early mornings or Saturdays, as needed, for certain gleaning days with advance notice. Member schedules can be flexible with prior approval by supervisors.
Members will be given the opportunity to fulfill all service hour requirements while also allowing for holidays and 50 hours of paid time off (PTO). Missed hours can be made up on 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 training on AmeriCorps program impacts, history, and prohibited activities as well as orientation to the local food system and food justice topics addressed by Farm Fresh RI and Hope’s Harvest RI. Training will not exceed more than 20% of the Member’s total service hours completed.
All Members will have opportunities for weekly one-on-one check-ins with supervisors as well as end-of-service performance evaluation. Members will be responsible for submitting weekly timesheets and monthly program narrative reports.
Benefits
- $7000 living stipend, divided and paid in equal weekly installments
- $3097.50 Segal Education Award (upon completion of 900 hours of service)
- Student loan forbearance
- Mileage reimbursement
- Professional development opportunities
To Apply
Complete this online application form. After filling out your application, please email your resume to Mollie Rose Siebert at [email protected]. Applications are due by March 1st, 2021, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.