The Food Depository leverages full time AmeriCorps members to support the following areas:
- Food access programs, like food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters
- Workforce development
- Youth programs, like afterschool and summer meals
Service Activities
Exact position description will vary based on team placement, but all members will participate in the following service activities:
∙ Develop an in-depth knowledge of the Food Depository’s food access programming and initiatives designed to alleviate the root causes of hunger
∙ Build, steward, and manage relationships with partners – such as food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, student recruitment and employment partners, and youth-based organizations
∙ Perform outreach activities to spread awareness and increase participation in programs
∙ Provided ongoing training and technical support to program coordinators
∙ Support volunteers at food access partner sites and within the organization
∙ Support program participants (CCK students, food access partner site patrons, and volunteers)
∙ Assist with tracking and reporting requirements (including data collection, data entry, and data analysis, as needed)
Community Need Addressed
As the food bank for Cook County, the Food Depository distributes food through a network of over 700 community-based partnerships. More than 812,000 residents turn to the Food Depository’s network for support each year or experience food insecurity, having limited or inconsistent access to a variety of quality, nutritious food. These individuals also face a variety of interrelated challenges related to poverty, unemployment and health disparities. The Food Depository offers a variety of programs and services to partners throughout Chicago and suburban Cook County to provide food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in the community.
Position Outcomes
1. Implementation of new tools at food access partner sites to improve organizational effectiveness
2. Increase participation in the organization's workforce development program.
3. Support youth food access programs, like after school meal sites and summer meals programming.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Skills you will gain
Time management, caseload management, client interaction, capacity building, training others, community organizing
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
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
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines, 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 environment of contribution, 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, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment