Mobile Food Pantry - Food Bank Fresh!

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Food Bank Fresh Volunteer Roles

What is Food Bank Fresh?

Food Bank Fresh is a program of Clark County Food Bank that sets up a free farmer’s market-style distribution of fresh produce and other groceries for people in underserved communities. The program offers a fun, friendly, dignified food distribution for those in need, and provides Nutrition Education and other resources to help alleviate hunger and its root causes.

What volunteer roles are available?

We need volunteers to load and deliver the display tables from CCFB, set up and tear down the tables and canopies at the distribution, greet participants, help hand out the food, sort and replenish the food, and be a food "marketer," encouraging participants to try new foods using your own experience and recipes and resources available from our Nutrition Education team. This is a newer program, so we’re learning together as we go. Be prepared to be flexible, and feel free to offer suggestions on how to make it even better! Here’s the breakdown of roles:

Volunteer Program Leaders (long-term commitment)

• Truck Driver :Pick up prepared display tables and pallets of food from CCFB, along with supplies and deliver them to the Food Bank Fresh site. Unload on site, using lift gate. Work with site leader and volunteers to set up and establish event flow. Reload and bring all remaining food and supplies back to CCFB at end of day.
  • Client engagement level:Medium. You’ll be focusing more on food than people, but this is a community event, and there will be a significant amount of interaction with your fellow volunteers and participants.
  • Physical Activity Level: High. Moving food takes some muscle!
  • Training Required: Volunteers interested in this role should be comfortable driving a 20 ft. truck - CCFB will provide complete safety and driving training. CDL is not necessary. Shadow CCFB staff and lead volunteers for 2-3 deliveries and Food Bank Fresh distributions before this role.
  • Time required: 4-5 hours on distribution day.

• Market Manager: Manage volunteers and troubleshoot throughout the event, working with staff and participants on site to ensure everything runs smoothly. Ideally, site leads are familiar with the community in which the Food Bank Fresh takes place, encouraging volunteers from within the community to assist, and adding to the community feel.
  • Client engagement level: High. You’ll be the one that people turn to with questions and concerns, and your role is to make sure that all involved have a positive experience and come back next time!
  • Physical Activity Level:Medium. You may be modeling physical activities as you train new runners and other volunteers, and probably standing for 2+ hours.
  • Training required: Attend 3-4 Food Bank Fresh distributions as a volunteer before taking over, working closely with CCFB staff before, during, and after distribution.
  • Time required: 4-5 hours on distribution day. 3-5 hours of volunteer recruitment and training beforehand. 1hour compiling reports and updates for CCFB staff.

• Client Services Volunteers: Fill any of the following roles, as needed based on site leader and market manager needs.
  • Check-in:Greet participants and help them sign in to the distribution. Offer grocery bags, as available. The check-in table also offers resource pamphlets for health fairs, Basic Food signups, etc.
    • Client engagement level: High. You’re the first face people see, and we want everyone to know that they are welcome!
    • Physical Activity level: Low. This role mostly involves sitting down, similar to a receptionist. Depending on your interest and ability, you may also choose to be involved in setup and teardown.
    • Training required: On-the-job. Administrative skills helpful.
    • Time required: 3-4 hours on distribution day

• Client Services (continued): Each table has 3-5 different foods on it, and you will be "promoting" the foods on your table to participants, helping them fill their bags and calling out to the runners to replenish the table.
  • Client engagement level: High. Your enthusiasm and knowledge of the products on your table will help encourage clients to take and eat healthy foods, and contribute to the community feel of the event.
  • Physical Activity Level: Medium. Expect to stand most of the time (2+ hours), and some bending, stooping, and lifting will be involved. Accommodations may be made depending on availability of staff and volunteers. Depending on your interest and ability, you may also choose to be involved in setup and teardown.
  • Training required: On-the-job. Nutrition knowledge and interest in food a plus!
  • Time required: 3-4 hours on distribution day

• Truck Rider: The truck rider meets at the food bank before the event and rides with the truck driver to the site after the truck is loaded up. Your job is to help unload the truck, assist with set up and tear down, and to help as needed with crowd management, breaking down boxes, and other activities to keep the event running smoothly.
  • Client engagement level: Medium. You’ll be focusing more on food than people, but this is a community event, and there will be a significant amount of interaction with your fellow volunteers and participants, especially if crowd management is needed.
  • Physical Activity Level: High. During the crowded times, you will be moving across the distribution area constantly, lifting boxes of produce and other foods onto tables. Along with being one of the main volunteers helping to load/unload the truck. We provide water!
  • Training required: On-the-job.
  • Time required: 3-4 hours on distribution day.

• Nutrition Education:Work with CCFB Nutrition Education teams to prepare and offer recipes and tastings to clients. Promote fresh produce and healthy eating. Nutrition Education volunteers attend orientation and training at CCFB before participating.
  • Client engagement level: High. Encourage people to try new foods and cook them at home.
  • Physical activity Level: Medium. You may be standing for long periods of time.
  • Training required: Attend Nutrition Education orientation and training prior to serving in this role. Assistance with recipe development, shopping, and preparation at CCFB before the distribution may be an option.
  • Time required: 3-4 hours on distribution day. 3+ hours earlier in the week if interested in recipe development.