Walla Walla Valley Food System Coordinator AmeriCorps VISTA Position - Blue Mountain Action Council (BMAC) Food Bank
Description:
Take action to end hunger in the fertile Walla Walla Valley of Southeastern Washington at the Blue Mountain Action Council (BMAC) Food Bank. Empower low- income families, build community strength, and develop strategies to prevent poverty.
BMAC is teaming up with Harvest Against Hunger to recruit an AmeriCorps VISTA as the Walla Walla Valley Food System Coordinator. The VISTA will meet with volunteers, farmers, and community agencies to establish relationships and determine schedule of collaboration efforts; research, create and deliver presentations; create gleaning schedules; recruit volunteers; and more.
Approximately one in seven people in Eastern Washington rely on food assistance. One in five children are food insecure. Typically, nonprofit food banks rely on donated canned or boxed foods, but data has shown that increasing the quantity and quality of fresh produce through our distribution system has a great effect on the health of our clients. In 2018, the BMAC Food Bank completed a comprehensive Walla Walla Valley Food Hub Feasibility Study which proved that Walla Walla Valley’s capacity to produce high-quality vegetables, fruits, and associated value-added products is well beyond that needed for many more business ventures of this scale. However, the most important enabling factor for all scenarios in the feasibility study was the engagement of people with the knowledge and skills needed who are committed to making it happen. The WWV Food System Coordinator will coordinate the independent efforts of these engaged farmers, businesses, organizations, and volunteers.
In this partnership, Harvest Against Hunger acts as a program incubator and catalyst, utilizing a team of AmeriCorps VISTA who build sustainable community food security programs across the country. VISTAs serve with their projects for a year, recruiting and coordinating volunteers, addressing challenges related to supply chain management like the transportation and distribution of gleaned produce, and creating systems to collect data and evaluate programs.
Harvest Against Hunger projects also aim to involve the larger community in addressing food insecurity.
How to Apply:For more information and to apply, go to
https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=101224
For other opportunities with Harvest Against Hunger (currently in Washington state and Vermont), go to https://www.harvestagainsthunger.org/harvest-vista-program-positions/