Food and Nutrition Volunteer

About Fortune: The Fortune Society, Inc. (Fortune) has evolved into one of the nation’s

preeminent re-entry and justice-informed service organizations, providing formerly incarcerated people with the skills and wrap-around services needed to break the cycle of crime and incarceration and to build productive lives in their communities.

Our Mission: The Fortune Society’s mission is to support successful reentry from incarceration and promote alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of our communities.

Opportunity Title: Food Distribution Volunteer

Type: Volunteer, unpaid. Must be age 18+

Department/Reports To: Nutrition Educator and/or Chef Manager

Location: W 140th St, NYC

Schedule: Wednesdays 9:45 am – 12:15/30 pm; outside in the carport (outside heaters used in the Winter)

Duration: Arrive by 9:45 am, leave at 12:30 pm or earlier

Application Deadline: Ongoing need

Position Summary: The Fortune Society’s Food and Nutrition department is seeking volunteers to assist with our food distribution program on Wednesdays, before, during and after our food pantry hours. Between the hours of 9:45 am and 12:15 pm, we set up a food distribution area and ultimately serve 300-400 community members and Fortune residents. The significant number of people we serve on food distribution days, creates a need for punctual, organized and resilient volunteers who can assist us in distributing food in an organized, efficient and expeditious manner while also maintaining order on the sidewalks and ensuring community member compliance.

*Due to the needs of the community members we serve, bilingual Spanish-speaking and/or Chinese-speaking (Mandarin and/or Cantonese) volunteers are needed and preferred. However, others who have proficiency in another language in addition to English, are also encouraged to reach out to us.

What our volunteers do:

▪ Set up and breakdown food distribution area (we use stanchions and a folding table)

▪ Distribute bags of food

▪ Help maintain order - making sure that community members maintain lines against Fortune’s walls, do not block the sidewalks, form crowds, gather across the street from Fortune and that they leave the produce distribution area immediately after receiving their bags

▪ Check-in Plentiful App users and assist them with navigating the App as needed

▪ Ensure that each person and family members living together receive only one bag

▪ Answer questions from community members before, during and after food distribution

▪ Hand out written information, numbered tickets and recipe sheets

▪ Provide information about the Plentiful App and assist with App registration for walk-ins

What we are looking for in our volunteers:

▪ The ability to dress appropriately for the weather (distribution location is outside)

▪ The ability to arrive on-time and communicate if running late

▪ A friendly and confident disposition. Volunteers should also exhibit compassion towards people experiencing food insecurity

▪ The ability to follow suggestions and be thoughtful, resourceful, cooperative, considerate and humble

▪ A legal adult, 18 years of age and older