Delta Corps Member Service Position: Community Growing

SERVICE POSITION SUMMARY:

As part of the Food Sourcing Team, the Community Growing DeltaCorps will coordinate the residential gleaning program at Second Harvest Food Bank. Southeastern Louisiana is blessed with a robust citrus season and a history of backyard gardening. Hundreds of homes across the city have fruit trees growing but many homeowners are restricted, either by time, equipment or ability, to harvest the fruit themselves. Instead of allowing the fruit to go to waste, Second Harvest Food Bank organizes groups of volunteers to harvest the fruit. This fruit is then donated to our network of partner agencies, ultimately increasing access to locally grown fruit. . The Community Growing DeltaCorps is responsible for coordinating 50 harvests each year and collecting 10,000 pounds of fruit. The Community Growing DeltaCorps will engage with regional Farmers Markets and Community Gardens to procure donations and deepen relationships with farmers/growers

Essential Functions of Position:

• Communicate with homeowners in Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes to schedule residential harvests.
• Conduct site visits at residential properties to determine equipment and volunteer needs, safety concerns.
• Schedule harvests with homeowners based on homeowner, vehicle and volunteer availability and weather permitting.
• Using volunteer scheduling platform, recruit volunteers to assist with harvests, providing location and safety information.
• Conduct harvests with attention to safety concerns and with respect to homeowner’s property and requests.
• Deliver harvested fruit to Second Harvest Food Bank or to partner agency.
• Record donor information and agency deliveries in donor database. Provide accurate paperwork to Receiving and Inventory departments.
• Acknowledge donors through the use of social media, donation receipts and follow-up thank yous.
• Engage with regional Farmers Markets and Community Gardens to procure donations and deepen relationships with farmers/growers.
• Participate in community events focused on sustainability and accessibility to local foods.
• Work with Food Sourcing Team to address opportunities and challenges that may impact entire service area.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and an interest in working with diverse populations.
• Attention to detail and the capacity to produce accurate work is essential.
• Intermediate-level knowledge of MS Office applications with the ability to generate outreach materials such as business letters, flyers, pamphlets, etc.
• Exceptional telephone and email etiquette, appointment setting, and follow-up skills.
• Willingness to work nontraditional, flexible work hours (i.e., evenings and weekends as needed).
• Ability to handle significant travel within targeted parishes; must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, and current auto insurance.
• Commitment to company mission and values.
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Criminal History Check
• Knowledge of hunger and poverty issues.

Academic and Experience Qualifications:

Experience working with community organizations and diverse populations including low-income residents. Nonprofit social service background preferred.

High school graduate, GED or will complete GED by end of service

 Commitment Required:

Start date: January 6^th, 2017

End date: January 4^th, 2018

The Community Growing DeltaCorps will serve 40 hours per week and are considered Full Time members.

Member Evaluation:

Performance reviews are conducted at 90 days, annually or as deemed necessary by a supervisor. Reviews are based on merit, achievement, and other factors that may include, but are not limited to: quality of work, attitude, knowledge of work, job skills, attendance and punctuality, teamwork and cooperation, compliance with company policy, past performance reviews, improvement, and acceptance of responsibility and constructive feedback.

Evaluation will also be based on bi-w weekly timesheets, weekly reports and weekly one-on-one meetings with supervisor.

Training provided:

• Serve Safe certification
• Cross-training in operations procedures, including inventory and receiving, logistics (NAVMAN, the GPS system)
• Feeding America’s food resource specialist introductory webinars.

AmeriCorps Program Benefits:.

• Living allowance of $12,530 annually ($482 bi-weekly)
• Upon completion of services, member receives $5,775 educational award
• Eligible for childcare and student load deferment
• Healthcare provided

How to Apply

Email resume and cover letter to jobs@secondharvest.org.

Type “Community Growing” as the only content in the subject line of your email.