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8 people are interested
New Entry Food Hub Volunteer
ORGANIZATION: New Entry Sustainable Farming Project
Please visit the new page to apply.
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8 people are interested
Purpose: Our New Entry Food Hub supports beginning farmers by providing them with a critical first market channel: our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Volunteers are the backbone of our Food Hub operations, allowing us the capacity to also serve low-income food access partners such as senior centers and food banks.
Responsibilities: Food Hub volunteers serve at our Food Hub warehouse in Lowell, and work directly with Food Hub staff. They unload, unpack, pack, and prepare our customers' produce orders. This includes taking inventory, folding and unfolding boxes, and neatly packing produce, as well as loading pallets and trucks, and cleaning up afterwards. Volunteers also help with the sanitation of CSA boxes.
Time Commitment: Our volunteers commit to one, two, or three mornings per week. ***WE ARE CURRENTLY ONLY FILLING OUR WEDNESDAY MORNING SHIFT, ALL OTHER SHIFTS ARE FULL***
***All volunteers must meet with the Volunteer Facilitator for a brief orientation prior to service. This will be at a time and location that works for both parties.
Benefits: Surplus produce will be shared equally among all volunteers on share packing days! Work alongside committed, friendly, and hard-working team members dedicated to repairing and building our local food system and feel good about contributing your time and energy to this cause. Volunteer hours can be verified for community service or class requirements.
Contact Info/Next Steps: To inquire about this volunteer position please email courtney.spivey@tufts.edu.
More opportunities with New Entry Sustainable Farming Project
No additional volunteer opportunities at this time.
About New Entry Sustainable Farming Project
Location:
45 Merrimack Street, 5th Floor, Lowell, MA 01852, US
Mission Statement
The New Entry Sustainable Farming Project’s (New Entry) mission is to improve our local and regional food systems by training the next generation of farmers to produce food that is sustainable, nutritious, and culturally-appropriate and making this food accessible to individuals regardless of age, mobility, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. In doing this work, we provide critical training, career development, and economic opportunity to new farmers. World PEAS Food Hub expands on New Entry's mission by building long term economic self-reliance and food security among farmers in eastern Massachusetts and their communities, and to increase access of healthy and culturally appropriate foods in underserved areas through production of locally-grown foods.
Description
World PEAS began as a cooperative in 2005, with the goal to help beginning, immigrant and refugee farmers connect with local consumers seeking fresh produce. Most participating farmers do not have a large enough volume, means of transportation, time, or English language skills to effectively access viable, living wage markets on their own. By forming a cooperative, small, beginning, immigrant and refugee farmers are able to combine their products to more efficiently and effectively connect with local consumers. In June 2013, World PEAS opened a physical warehouse space, transforming the program from a cooperative into a true Food Hub. World PEAS aggregates and distributes vegetables grown by over 30 beginning, immigrant and refugee farmers who use organic growing practices. Additional fruits and vegetables are sourced from farms within 100 miles of Boston that use certified organic practices, as well as farms that use integrated pest management. This produce serves over 300 World PEAS CSA shareholders and over 2,000 low-income individuals though local shelters and food banks, schools and institutions, and SNAP-eligible Lowell residents.
CAUSE AREAS
WHEN
WHERE
199 Crosby St.Lowell, MA 01852
DATE POSTED
July 18, 2018
SKILLS
- Cross-cultural Communication
- Food Delivery / Distribution
- Warehouse Equipment Operations
- Gardening
- Community Outreach
- Farming
GOOD FOR
- Teens
- People 55+
REQUIREMENTS
- Must be at least 15
- Orientation or Training
- At least one day each week, but can drop-in
- If you don't wish to pack shared, other positions are available, please inquire