Maine Ending Hunger Corps offers a range of VISTA service opportunities with placements available across the state with a variety of host sites including city government, state agencies, schools, nonprofits ranging from small grassroots organizations to the largest food bank in the state. Some projects impact essential statewide services like school meals & WIC, while others focus on meeting the needs of particular populations like the disability community, BIPOC communities, and survivors of human trafficking and their families.
Service Activities
Ending Hunger Corps VISTA opportunities are focused on capacity-building activities, like grantwriting and expanding program impact, to advance one or more of the state of Maine's ending hunger goals:
- Food Access
- Economic Security & Opportunity
- Advancing Equity
- Empowerment & Narrative Change
- Improving Coordination Across Efforts to End Hunger
Community Need Addressed
Maine Ending Hunger Corps is an AmeriCorps VISTA program sponsored by Maine's Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Forestry (DACF), with the goal of building capacity to fulfill Maine’s historic commitment to creating a hunger-free state by 2030.
Position Outcomes
Maine Ending Hunger Corps supports 23 VISTA projects a year, placing service members with nonprofit organizations and government agencies across the state that are doing work aligned with the goals of "Everyone at the Table: Maine’s Roadmap to End Hunger by 2030". By working at the intersection of poverty and hunger, Ending Hunger Corps members address the urgency of hunger today and advance long-term, root cause solutions.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Non-competitive eligibility (federal jobs), Relocation allowance (if applicable), Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Additional benefits vary by EHC VISTA position. Some sites offer supplemental benefits like housing assistance, a meal plan, or perks like gym or state park access.
Skills you will gain
Training on Food Insecurity & Hunger
Public Speaking
Event Planning
Grantwriting
Communications
Leadership
Community Outreach
Project Management
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization