Community Action Center, Seed Co

About the position

The Food Access Support VISTA at Community Action Center (CAC) is a dynamic, public-facing role focused on expanding the reach and quality of CAC's food access work in Northfield and Faribault. CAC is a trauma-responsive, person-centered human services organization whose mission is to promote a healthy, caring community for all, and our food access program is a central pillar of that work. The Food Access Support VISTA will learn about food insecurity and engage with the community through outreach, relationship building, and diversification and expansion of our distribution options, with the ultimate goal of increasing health and reducing poverty in low-income households across Rice County. Language proficiency in Spanish or Somali is encouraged but not required. This project is part of the Community Corps VISTA Program, operated by Seed Coalition. The program strives to eliminate poverty through campus-community partnerships by placing full-time capacity building support in nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions.

Responsibilities

• Engage with campus and student leadership at local colleges to understand, document, and address food insecurity
• Explore and develop plans for 'grab and go' food distribution in partnership with colleges, schools, and local organizations
• Integrate new grant-funded Door Dash deliveries into a sustainable and equitable home delivery program
• Enlist feedback and guidance from participant leadership groups on how best to provide food access beyond CAC's brick-and-mortar food shelves
• Develop and improve existing options for remote food access
• Expand the scope, documentation, eligibility and procedures for CAC's home delivery program
• Conduct outreach in the community and develop outreach materials
• Partner with local producers and retailers to increase the quantity and quality of locally sourced and recovered foods
• Develop new and improved avenues for donation of prepared foods through research and collaboration with local bakeries, restaurants, and cafeterias

Nice-to-haves

• Language proficiency in Spanish or Somali

Benefits

• Health Coverage
• Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend
• Relocation Allowance
• Training
• Living Allowance
• Childcare assistance if eligible
• Education award upon successful completion of service
• Access to food pantry