Bilingual CalFresh Intern

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In Orange County alone, there are more than 315,000 people who are at risk of going hungry each month. Many of those who are experiencing food insecurity are working-poor families, children, and seniors who are often finding it hard to make ends meet. Our mission at Second Harvest Food Bank is to end hunger in Orange County so that we create a future where no one goes hungry.

The CalFresh intern will work closely with the CalFresh Capacity Coordinator and other CalFresh interns to focus efforts on educating the community and increasing participation in CalFresh (formerly food stamps or SNAP). The CalFresh intern will be responsible for facilitating the application process by helping individuals submit CalFresh applications to the county’s Social Services agency. The CalFresh intern will also be responsible for visiting weekly food pantry distributions and other community events to conduct direct outreach with food insecure populations. Additionally, the intern may be responsible for helping with other CalFresh related tasks in the office. The CalFresh intern will be a crucial member of the team to improve low participation rates of CalFresh in Orange County.

Time commitment:

Flexible, minimum of 8 hours per week; 15-18 weeks (or length of semester/quarter)

Location:

Varies - Cities around Orange County. Including but not limited to Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Habra, Laguna Beach, Placentia, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana

Key Responsibilities:

• Become a knowledgeable resource on the CalFresh program
• Help applicants understand the program and the application process
• Assist applicants with the application and ensure its completion
• Advocate on behalf of the clients and navigate through any complications that arise
• Participate in CalFresh team meetings and provide feedback to help the team improve community impact
• Conduct direct outreach to food insecure communities regarding CalFresh
• Attend resource fairs and community events to educate attendees about our programs

Personal Qualities:

• Positive and energetic
• People person who enjoys connecting with others
• Friendly, courteous customer service skills
• Able to maintain a positive attitude and diplomatic demeanor while working with diverse populations
• Flexible and adaptable to change

Qualifications:

• Bilingual abilities, Spanish speaker preferred
• A passion for hunger alleviation and community development
• Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Good judgment when handling sensitive and/or confidential material
• Time management skills/ability to juggle multiple responsibilities
• Valid driver's license, proof of vehicle insurance coverage (mileage compensation provided)

Physical Demands:

• Regular driving throughout Orange County
• Extended time on your feet or outdoors in community settings

Work Environment:

• Off-site work with communities and partners (60% of the time)
• Indoor, office environment (40% of the time)
• Driving time