Hope’s Harvest, a program of Farm Fresh RI, seeks an outgoing and energetic Volunteer Accessibility AmeriCorps VISTA with demonstrated initiative and clear organizational skills. 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 hunger relief program. This position requires a one year commitment to begin on June 3, 2024. Application deadline is May 6, 2024.
Program Summary:
One in three Rhode Islanders rely on the emergency food system to meet their basic needs, a staggering and steady number since COVID-19. In 2023, Hope’s Harvest RI rescued over 260,000 lbs 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 2024-25, 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 programs at Farm Fresh RI, a food hub with many different programs working together to build a stronger food system in Rhode Island.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Improve Farm Fresh’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 RI 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 50lbs
- 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
About AmeriCorps VISTA:
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.
AmeriCorps VISTA Member Benefits:
- Bi-weekly (every two weeks) living allowance of $877.66
- $600 monthly rent stipend
- Monthly bus pass
- Student loan deferment
- Mileage reimbursement
- Professional development opportunities
- CNCS health benefit & childcare assistance
- $7,395.00 Segal Education Award upon completion of service to help pay for college, graduate school, or vocational training, or to repay student loans
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 3, 2024 to June 2, 2025. 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 programs. Training will not exceed more than 20% of the members total service hours completed.
Apply:
This is a full year position starting on June 3, 2024 and ending June 2, 2024. The deadline to apply is 5/6/2024. To apply: please go to: http://www.americorps.gov/about/programs/vista.asp Please review AmeriCorps VISTA information on this site. Then go to My AmeriCorps - Login 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 “Apply Now.” Submit your application including 2 references. Applications must be submitted through this AmeriCorps VISTA site, Farm Fresh Rhode Island cannot accept applications directly.