Needs From: United Way of Greater Charlottesville

Support the Food Bank’s efforts to expand nutrition services at our Mobile Food Pantries by engaging Food Bank guests in nutrition education conversations.

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourages people with lived experiences of hunger and members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including people of color, LGBTQ identified people, gender-nonconforming people, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people who speak a language in addition to English.

As a Walk the Line Nutrition Education Volunteer you will help by:

·       Sharing nutrition information with guests at food distribution sites.

·       Distributing flyers/tools to guests, occasionally (i.e., Food Finder information, kitchen tools, etc.)

·       Providing feedback to Food Bank staff about the overall volunteer experience, guest responses to the nutrition content, and opportunities for improvement.

·       Self-reporting hours volunteered in Volunteerhub.

Desired Skills and Talents:

·       Reliable self-transportation to distribution sites (mileage is not reimbursed).

·       Strong communication and customer service skills.

·       Access to a phone and email.

·       Good judgment and safety awareness.

·       Ability to stand for 2–3 hours without breaks.

·       Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

·       Good mobility, including bending and reaching.

·       Comfort engaging directly and respectfully with Food Bank guests.

·       Experience in nutrition, culinary medicine, health, or wellness is a plus and makes ideal Walk the Line Nutrition Educators.

Location and Schedule:

·       This position will be working at outdoor, offsite distributions, not at a Food Bank warehouse.

·       This event occurs on the third Wednesday of every month from 9 to 11 AM

·       If an event is cancelled due to weather, you will be contacted in advance by the managing Food Bank staff.

Training:

·       An initial training of about 2.5 hours is required and provided by BRAFB staff. This includes:

o   An in person walk through with Food Bank staff.

o   A 1 to 2-hour self-guided training module.

Dress Code

·       Due to safety concerns, all volunteers must wear close-toed shoes (no sandals or flip flops) and comfortable, appropriate clothes suitable for the weather of the day. The distribution takes place outside in the elements, rain or shine.

Time/Age Restrictions:

·       Volunteers must be 18 years or older.

·       2-3 hours per distribution to finalize nutrition education content and day-of logistics with Food Bank staff, not including travel time.

·       This position requires a minimum commitment of 3 months, although it is highly encouraged to continue for longer as consistency is important for guest interactions. 

·       Volunteers are expected to conduct 3-4 Walk the Line sessions between March and October, based on their availability.

Support the Food Bank’s efforts to expand nutrition services at our Mobile Food Pantries by engaging Food Bank guests in nutrition education conversations.

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourages people with lived experiences of hunger and members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including people of color, LGBTQ identified people, gender-nonconforming people, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people who speak a language in addition to English.

As a Walk the Line Nutrition Education Volunteer you will help by:

·       Sharing nutrition information with guests at food distribution sites.

·       Distributing flyers/tools to guests, occasionally (i.e., Food Finder information, kitchen tools, etc.)

·       Providing feedback to Food Bank staff about the overall volunteer experience, guest responses to the nutrition content, and opportunities for improvement.

·       Self-reporting hours volunteered in Volunteerhub.

Desired Skills and Talents:

·       Reliable self-transportation to distribution sites (mileage is not reimbursed).

·       Strong communication and customer service skills.

·       Access to a phone and email.

·       Good judgment and safety awareness.

·       Ability to stand for 2–3 hours without breaks.

·       Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

·       Good mobility, including bending and reaching.

·       Comfort engaging directly and respectfully with Food Bank guests.

·       Experience in nutrition, culinary medicine, health, or wellness is a plus and makes ideal Walk the Line Nutrition Educators.

Location and Schedule:

·       This position will be working at outdoor, offsite distributions, not at a Food Bank warehouse.

·       This event occurs on the fourth Thursday of every month from 9 to 11:30 AM

·       If an event is cancelled due to weather, you will be contacted in advance by the managing Food Bank staff.

Training:

·       An initial training of about 2.5 hours is required and provided by BRAFB staff. This includes:

o   An in person walk through with Food Bank staff.

o   A 1 to 2-hour self-guided training module.

Dress Code

·       Due to safety concerns, all volunteers must wear close-toed shoes (no sandals or flip flops) and comfortable, appropriate clothes suitable for the weather of the day. The distribution takes place outside in the elements, rain or shine.

Time/Age Restrictions:

·       Volunteers must be 18 years or older.

·       2-3 hours per distribution to finalize nutrition education content and day-of logistics with Food Bank staff, not including travel time.

·       This position requires a minimum commitment of 3 months, although it is highly encouraged to continue for longer as consistency is important for guest interactions. 

·       Volunteers are expected to conduct 3-4 Walk the Line sessions between March and October, based on their availability.

If you’ve ever thought about volunteering for the Food Bank, and you want to ensure nourishing food and good health for all, a new role is available at rural Mobile Food Pantry (MFP) locations to support the guest experience:

MFP Guest Registration – Greet and register guests – Available locations: Columbia, Virginia

This is a terrific opportunity to share your time, talent, and compassion while serving your community. Maybe you and a friend can sign-up to serve, together!

We’re seeking people with specific qualifications, and each requires a recurring time commitment (once a month on a set schedule, ongoing, plus a few hours each month for data support). If you’re interested, visit our website (Specialized Volunteer Opportunities - Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (brafb.org) to see if your skills match our needs, and then let us know if you’re ready to serve. Email lmarrs@brafb.org for more information!

Volunteers absolutely make our work possible. Hundreds of households receive nourishing food every time we distribute food at a Mobile Pantry. Join us! You will meet some fantastic people while doing meaningful work and making your community stronger. 

Host a Food Drive for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank!

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank receives nourishing food from more than 1,100 food drives each year. Hosting a food drive is a fun and engaging way to fill the shelves with nutritious food to distribute to families experiencing hunger. Food drives are also a way to educate the public about the need in our community. We’re proud to partner with you and thank you. Questions or concerns? Please contact us at fooddrives@brafb.org.

Register your food drive at: Organize a Food or Fund Drive - The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank