Coordinate with community partners to increase access to summer meals and afterschool meals programs, with a particular focus on supporting communities of color impacted by COVID-19
Become a technical expert on federal child nutrition programs, and provide technical assistance to community partners
Develop and coordinate a county-wide outreach strategy to increase community awareness of summer and afterschool meals programs and increase participation at sites
Create outreach materials for families and ensure materials are translated into appropriate languages
Support the collection and management of confidential client information collected at meals sites, and analyze date for trends and resource gaps
Recruit and coordinate occasional volunteer groups to support food access work at summer meals and afterschool meals sites
Service Activities
Build and sustain relationships with families living in affordable housing communities,
Conduct food security surveys with households to identify food needs
Collect and implement change as a result of family and community feedback
Assist families in enrolling in federal nutrition programs, including free and reduced-price school meals, SNAP (Basic Food), and the Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC)
Conduct outreach to connect families with their nearest food banks and meals sites
Serve daytime or afterschool meals to youth and deliver groceries from partnering food banks to families
Assist with on-site youth enrichment activities, including distributing activity kits, leading small group activities, and teaching nutrition education, in partnership with the YMCA of Greater Seattle
Manage confidential client data, including the result of food security surveys, and track ongoing food security interventions
Collect and share stories highlighting local successes in connecting families to food resources
Community Need Addressed
Family and youth food insecurity in King County
Position Outcomes
Everyone deserves consistent access to healthy and culturally appropriate food. But, since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, local leaders estimate that hunger in our community has tripled. Low-income families and families of color have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, and are experiencing hunger at unprecedented rates. United Way of King County’s Fuel Your Future program connects families with critical food resources – including school meals, food banks, and public benefits programs like SNAP and WIC – with a particular focus on low-income communities of color.
As a VISTA with the Fuel Your Future team, you will help ensure that low-income children have access to nutritious food in the places where they live, learn, and play. You will support United Way’s work to increase the accessibility of afterschool and summer meals programs – which provide meals to kids when school isn’t in session. You will build overall program capacity by leveraging volunteers, collaborating with community partners to open new meals sites, and supporting outreach efforts to families.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Health coverage, Stipend, Training
Loan deferment on qualified student loans during your service
Payment of interest on qualified student loans that are accrued during service term
An Education Award of $6,195 upon successful completion of service
Health benefits that meet minimum standards of ACA compliance
8 days of sick leave, 8 days of personal leave
Childcare assistance
Unlimited public transportation pass (ORCA card)
Opportunity to be a part of an innovative, high-impact program
Working across teams of various community organizations
Gain valuable personal and professional development experience
Becoming a member of a large network of current AmeriCorps members and alums
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner
Creativity & Problem Solving
Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel
Teamwork
Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others
Decisions
Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines
Planning
Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served