United Way of Hancock County’s Halt Hunger Initiative (HHI) is accepting applications for an AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA).
The VISTA candidate will explore opportunities to expand food recovery efforts in Hancock County. Recovery programs supporting countywide efficient acquisition and distribution of fresh produce for food pantries and the establishment of a communication network to support those efforts will be researched for implementation.
The VISTA must be self-motivated and become familiar with Hancock County and its food insecure landscape. The ideal candidate will use excellent communication skills and present a collaborative spirit to become a liaison to city and county organizations serving the food insecure. The creation and fostering of partnerships in the outlying rural areas will be central to the program’s success.
The VISTA will use research and analysis techniques to construct and perform interviews, surveys and assessments of the rural communities’ food outreach and related activities in an effort to identify barriers to food security.
Applicants must have a high school diploma or general education development (GED) certificate and must be at least 18 years old. This is a full time position with healthcare benefits, leave benefits and training. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or legal immigrant, have a valid driver’s license and maintain a clean driving record.
Applications must be submitted by April 15. Applicants must be available to start on June 27. The AmeriCorps VISTA program provides a living allowance that enables the selected candidate to live very frugally, like the community being served. The allowance is based on poverty rates for a single individual in the geographic area. The living allowance is paid biweekly and deposited directly into the selected candidate’s bank account.
For more information and to apply go to https://www.liveunitedhancockcounty.org/halt-hunger-americorps-vista-in…. All applicants must apply through this portal.
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About AmeriCorps:
AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 men and women in intensive service each year at more than 21,000 locations including nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. AmeriCorps members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve. Members gain valuable professional, educational, and life benefits, and the experience has a lasting impact on the members and the communities they serve. AmeriCorps consists of three main programs: the state and national AmeriCorps program, whose members serve with nonprofit and community groups across the country; AmeriCorps VISTA, through which members serve full-time addressing poverty and building the capacity of nonprofit organizations; and AmeriCorps NCCC, a team-based residential program for young adults 18-24 who serve in public safety, the environment, youth development, and disaster relief and preparedness.
About the Halt Hunger Initiative:
Purpose: To mobilize the community to research, identify, implement, and promote long-term sustainable solutions to the problem of hunger in Hancock County.
The goals are as follows:
1. Support local food programs and providers in their efforts to provide nutritious food to individuals and families in need of food assistance
2. Assure all those in need have access to food assistance programs.
3. Develop and implement long-term plans for food acquisition, storage capacity and distribution capacity.
4. Educate and equip individuals and families to be food secure.
About United Way of Hancock County:
Although it is a global organization, each United Way is locally governed and focuses on improving lives in each individual community across the country and around the world.
Since its inception in 1955, United Way of Hancock County has gone from doing fundraising for a handful of organizations to partnering with hundreds of local nonprofit programs and services. Cumulatively, the organization has raised more than $79 million to accomplish its mission to measurably improve people’s lives in Hancock County. Its board, staff and community-minded volunteers serve on community committees, participate in collaborative projects and partner with cross-sector organizations to address the root causes of social issues in Hancock County.
United Way of Hancock County continually works toward a community where all individuals and families achieve their human potential through education, income stability and healthy lives. The organization strives for a community that fosters hope and opportunity for everyone.
For more information about United Way of Hancock County, please visit http://LiveUnitedHancockCounty.org.