Just Harvest has an opening for a full-time VISTA member through the Anti-Hunger and Opportunity Corps, a project of Hunger Free America. We are seeking a dedicated and self-motivated individual to serve for a full year, starting July 2017. The position responsibilities are as follows:
Promote Awareness of and Access to SNAP (Food Stamp) Benefits:
- Create/update awareness materials to enhance awareness of SNAP benefits and application procedures
- Seek to improve benefits access by expanding our existing network of community allies, and recruiting new partners.
- Provide training to local agencies to enhance awareness of SNAP benefits and application procedures.
- Engage individuals and organizations in a variety of SNAP awareness-building activities, including presentations, application days, and participating in community events.
- Strengthen partnerships with other human services agencies to assist in connecting their clients with SNAP.
- Expand that capacity of our SNAP application assistance program by recruiting, training, and managing volunteers to assist with pre-screenings, applications, and follow-up calls.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of SNAP awareness activities.
Time Commitment: This is a one year, full-time position beginning in July 2017. You are expected to be available for the needs of your community and project at all times, including days, nights and weekends. Because AmeriCorps VISTA service requires a full immersion in the project and community, there are restrictions on outside full-time employment, along with some restrictions on political and religious activities. For more information, please review the AmeriCorps VISTA Terms, Conditions and Benefits information available here.
Program Benefits:
- Bi-Weekly $455.70 living allowance
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award ($5,815) or End-of-Service stipend ($1,500)
- Health benefits*
- Housing or alternative assistance of up to $400**
- Training support of up to $500
- Potential to forbear student loans while in service
- Relocation assistance (if applicable)
- Childcare assistance (if applicable)
- Optional life insurance
- One year non-competitive status for federal government positions
- A network of over 180,000 AmeriCorps VISTA members and alums
*For more information on health coverage provided through CNCS, visit: www.vistacampus.gov
**You are responsible for finding your own housing. Hunger Free America offers a small housing assistance of no more than $400 per service year to its members. However, members will need to fund their own housing outside of Hunger Free America’s assistance.
How to Apply:
Please submit a resume and cover letter to Ann Sanders at [email protected]. You will also need to complete an AmeriCorps VISTA application and apply it to the program listing.
What is the Anti-Hunger and Opportunity Corps?
The national Anti-Hunger and Opportunity Corps Program (AHOC), an initiative of Hunger Free America since 2010, is one of the largest anti-hunger AmeriCorps VISTA projects in the country. Its main focus is to fight hunger and improve nutrition, primarily by breaking down barriers to accessing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program) as well as by expanding economic opportunity and ensuring healthy futures for all Americans. Members also serve to increase the capacity of anti-hunger community organizations to help meet the needs of low-income community members, particularly to seniors, working families and non-English speaking populations.
[…] Just Harvest, which works to reduce poverty, improve access to healthy food and remove barriers to critical public benefits in Allegheny County, is looking for Summer and Fall Interns, a full-time VISTA Summer Associate and three full-time Year-Round VISTA Members. […]