Are you ready to make a positive impact in the lives of individuals and families struggling with food insecurity? We are thrilled to announce a VISTA opportunity serving Connecticut Foodshare and the huge partner program network. Connecticut Foodshare is the food bank serving all of our neighbors across the state. Working with a strong network of community-based hunger relief programs, Connecticut Foodshare addresses the social issue of hunger by providing nutritious food as well as long-term, sustainable solutions to food insecurity. By serving Connecticut Foodshare, you will be part of a team that helps drive community awareness, garners support, leverages research, and engages volunteers, to realize our vision of a thriving community free of hunger. What is a VISTA? Founded in 1964, Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) is an anti-poverty program designed to provide needed resources to nonprofit organizations and public agencies to increase their capacity to lift communities out of poverty. AmeriCorps VISTA provides opportunities for Americans 18 years or older from a diverse range of backgrounds to dedicate a year of full-time service with an organization to create or expand programs designed to empower individuals and communities in overcoming poverty. Note this is a full-time, one year volunteer assignment. VISTAs are provided with a living allowance and other benefits detailed below. Position Summary: The VISTA will connect and support food pantries and community kitchens who are members of the Connecticut Foodshare partner network. The VISTA will take a deep dive in a topical area, develop tools and resources and evaluate partners that would benefit from capacity building support around the topic of expertise. Potential topics are, but not limited to, food and fund sourcing, volunteer management and recruitment, and leveraging digital media. The VISTA will serve at the partner programs following a period of orientation and resource development. The time at each partner will be dependent on the partner’s needs and project development. The VISTA will reduce barriers to access for people served and build guest engagement while strengthening food assistance programming. The VISTA will document all lessons learned and recommendations for future program improvements. The position is based out of our Wallingford or Bridgeport offices with some statewide travel - mileage reimbursed. Must have own transportation.