Job Opportunity at Jewish Family Services

POSITION DESCRIPTION



Title: Food Bank Specialist



Department: Emergency Services Program



FLSA Status: Non-Exempt



Reports to: Food Bank Manager



Date Revised: June 4, 2013



I. Job Summary



Staff the JFS Food Bank Program including the Polack Food Bank, Food Bank Home Delivery



Program, the monthly Eastside Food Bank Program, and major events such as Food Drive and



holiday programs.



II. Equipment/Location



• Activities are at the main office and off site at various locations including: other JFS sites,



congregations and deliveries to private homes.



• 50 pound lifting requirement.



• Drives the Food Bank van for pick-ups and deliveries.



III. Essential Functions



• On direction of Food Bank Manager and/or Director of Emergency Services performs



tasks related to food acquisition and distribution, including ordering food, storing food



and distribution of food to Food Bank clients.



• Takes primary responsibility for keeping work areas organized and clean. This includes:



sorting and stocking product on a daily basis; keeping the facility clean and tidy, taking



trash and recycles out if needed; keeping volunteer station clean; notifying Facilitates



Department of unmet needs; and other cleaning duties that may arise related to this



function.



• Drives commercial type van to pick up or deliver products from/to various locations.



• Follows necessary systems as outlined for smooth operations of programs involved such



as client sign in procedures; volunteer sign in procedures.



• Provides oversight and direction for volunteers at various sites.



• Provides primary staffing for the Home Delivery Program.  This includes though not



limited to: using a database for client/volunteer information; maintaining contact with



all home delivery volunteers regarding their routes; providing orientation for new



volunteers; arranging substitutes as needed; collaboration with building staff;  and other



administrative duties that may arise relating to this function.



Food Bank Specialist



Emergency Services Program



IV. Secondary Functions



• Participates in special projects such as food drives, packaging events, and other



activities



V. Working Relationships



• Reports daily to Food Bank Manager



• Participates as part of the Emergency Services Department Team.



• Works with volunteers assigned to the Food Bank.



• Collaborates with other Agency staff.



VI. Qualifications



• AA Degree or 3 years paid experience in food bank or other social service activities.



• Demonstrated organizational and communication skills.



• Fluency in secondary language would be desirable:  Russian or Chinese preferred.



• Ability to safely lift 50 lbs.



• WA State Driver’s License.



• WA State Food Handler’s Permit (can be obtained post-hire).



• Experience in social service setting desired.



• Warehouse experience desired.



• Basic computer skills and familiarity with Outlook, Word, and Excel.



VII. Work Hours



• This is a 1.0 FTE; 37.5 hours per week, dependent on grant funds.  Most work will be



done during regular business hours.  Occasional evening or morning work; plus one



Sunday each month.



• Regular punctual attendance in required.

 Application materials may be sent to jprothman@jfsseattle.org.

Advocates Update from Northwest Harvest

Advocates Update Friday, June 21
IN THIS ISSUE Call today to urge Congress to vote NO on Farm Bill Upcoming Events  Sept. 18-20:   Washington Food Coalition Annual Conference Northwest Harvest PO Box 12272 Seattle, Washington 98102 800-722-6924 The mission of Northwest Harvest is to provide nutritious food to hungry people statewide in a manner that respects their dignity, while fighting to eliminate hunger.	Your Weekly Action Alert:   Thank House Members for Voting Down Farm Bill with Harmful SNAP Provisions! Federal Level:   The House voted down a Farm Bill that cut SNAP by nearly $21 billion with a vote of 195 yeas to 234 nays. Read more Take Action: Please join us in thanking Washington's Congressional Members Who Protected SNAP!    Our heartfelt thanks go out to the five members of Washington's Congressional delegation who voted down this Farm Bill to protect SNAP and to all of you for your responses to our calls to action. Your voices made a huge difference in defeating this terrible bill that would have had long-term, devastating consequences for all of us. Advocacy works so please keep up the great work! We need to contact our elected officials to thank them for good work just as much as we need to contact them to express our concerns. Please do the following: If you live or work in one of the following districts, please call or email the member of Congress for that district and thank them for standing up for hungry families by voting against H.R. 1947: District 1: Rep. Suzan DelBene District 6: Rep. Derek Kilmer District 7: Rep. Jim McDermott District 9: Rep. Adam Smith District 10: Rep. Denny Heck Find your U.S. Representative and links to their contact information here:http://www.house.gov 2.  Send us your thank you message and include a brief explanation in 1-2 sentences about how their vote to protect SNAP helps your clients or someone you know. We'll compile these messages into a thank you message that will also reinforce the need to keep protecting SNAP in future Farm Bill legislation and budget appropriations. Please email your messages toChristina no later than Tuesday, June 25. Take Action  State Level:   With each day that passes without a budget agreement, we come closer to risking a government shutdown. Read more

Northwest Harvest Advocates Update

Advocates Update Wednesday, June 19      IN THIS ISSUE Call today to urge Congress to vote NO on Farm Bill Upcoming Events  Sept. 18-20:   Washington Food Coalition Annual Conference Northwest Harvest PO Box 12272 Seattle, Washington 98102 800-722-6924 The mission of Northwest Harvest is to provide nutritious food to hungry people statewide in a manner that respects their dignity, while fighting to eliminate hunger.  Your Weekly Action Alert:   Call today to urge Congress to vote NO on Farm Bill  Federal Level:   The House of Representatives today voted to cut $20.5 billion for food assistance to low-income families. Debate continues on the Farm Bill through tomorrow. Take Action Call your member of Congress NOW and urge them to vote NO on H.R. 1947 because it cuts SNAP by $20.5 billion--an unconscionable amount. Note for those of you who are represented by Reps. DelBene, Kilmer, McDermott or Smith: Your calls are especially needed.Please thank them for co-sponsoring the McGovern amendment but that they must vote NO on this Farm Bill because it cuts SNAP by $20.5 billion. It is better for us to have a continuing resolution, ensuring funding for important agriculture programs, and work on a Farm Bill that creates a sustainable food system than to live with the long-term, devastating consequences of deep cuts to SNAP.   Thank you to all of you who have signed our citizens' petition objecting to deep cuts to SNAP in the Farm Bill. Please, if you haven't done so already, email Christina with your name and address (to be used to verify your Congressional district only) today to add your name to our petition and share this alert with others in your network. Watch our website for more information as it becomes available.   Preserving Our Safety Net:   A small boost to revenue and decline in caseloads for services gives our state legislators hope to achieve a final budget agreement soon.

Northwest Harvest Advocates Update

Advocates Update Monday, June 17
IN THIS ISSUE Join the National Call-In DayTOMORROW to Oppose $20.5 Billion Cut to SNAP! Upcoming Events  Sept. 18-20:   Washington Food Coalition Annual Conference Northwest Harvest PO Box 12272 Seattle, Washington 98102 800-722-6924 The mission of Northwest Harvest is to provide nutritious food to hungry people statewide in a manner that respects their dignity, while fighting to eliminate hunger.	Your Weekly Action Alert:   Join the National Call-In Day TOMORROW to Oppose $20.5 Billion Cut to SNAP! Federal Level:   The House may start debate and vote on a Farm Bill that will cut food assistance for families in need by $20.5 billion this week. Such a deep cut to SNAP would slash and in some cases eliminate benefits for families with children and seniors on fixed incomes, all of whom live below the poverty line. READ MORE Take Action Your voice is critical in the fight to protect SNAP from drastic cuts that will mean the loss of millions of meals for hungry families in America. Here are three things you can do TODAY: 1. Participate in a National Call-In Day, tomorrow, Tuesday, June 18. Call866-527-1087* and urge your Member of Congress to: Speak out in support of SNAP and against any cuts on the House floor. Vote NO on any harmful amendments to SNAP. Vote YES on any amendments to restore SNAP cuts or to strengthen the program. Vote NO on a Farm Bill that includes SNAP cuts. 2. Thank you for your overwhelmingly positive response to the Anti-Hunger and Nutrition Coalition's organizational sign on letter opposing cuts to SNAP in the Farm Bill. Please consider signing on as an individual  to our petition opposing these cuts. To sign on, please email your name and physical mailing address (used by Congressional members to verify your residency and status as a constituent) to Christina by Friday, June 21. 3. Share information about our petition and the call in day with your networks by forwarding this email or on social media. Please use the following hashtags: #SNAPWorks #SNAPChallenge #EndHungerNow Tip for our Partners If you have a service day this week, please print out a copy of the petition for individuals to sign on to show their opposition to cuts to SNAP and share with your customers after they receive their food. If they wish to sign on, please email Christina (christinaw@northwestharvest.org) with their names and addresses to include in our petition by this Friday, June 21.  ACT NOW

Advocacy Alert From Food Lifeline: Farm Bill Action - House Debate Starts Today!

ACTION ALERT

The US House is ready to cut $20.5 BILLION from food stamps - are you?

US House of Representatives' version of the farm bill would eliminate food stamps for 85,000 Washington households.   Last week we asked our partner agencies to sign onto a letter opposing these cuts and an overwhelming 103 organizations from around the state added their names!    Now we are asking individuals to add their name to a citizen letter opposing cuts to SNAP and call their congress members. With the Farm Bill scheduled for debate starting June 17th now is the time to speak out! Do you know a family who can afford to lose their SNAP benefits? UPDATED with correct "Sign on" email! Email Christina at christinaw@northwestharvest.org by Friday, June 21 with your name and home address!   Make the Call! Hunger relief organizations are hosting a national call-in day on Tuesday, June 18, to show our support for SNAP and protect programs that help put food on the table. Call 866-527-1087 to be connected to your Representative and Senators. Once you are connected tell them you are a constituent calling about the Farm Bill. Use the following message: "As your constituent I am asking you to vote against the House Farm Bill due to the deep cuts to SNAP. With so many families still struggling to put food on the table, it is important to protect and strengthen programs like SNAP.  I understand the need to reduce the deficit, but increasing hunger is not the way to do it." We value your input. Please share your thoughts and comments at advocacy@fll.org. Food Lifeline thanks MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, for supporting our advocacy program.

National Call-In Day to Protect SNAP on Tuesday, June 18th

Dear Valued MAZON Partners: We need you to lend your voice in the fight to protect the SNAP program as it faces devastating cuts.  Next week the House of Representatives will debate the Farm Bill, and we need your help protecting nutrition assistance for vulnerable families.  Please participate in the National Call-In Day onTuesday, June 18th and mobilize your networks to send a strong message to Congress that cuts to SNAP are not acceptable!   The House bill would cut $20.5 billion in funding for SNAP over 10 years, causing millions of our low-income neighbors to see their food assistance cut or lose their benefits entirely.  We cannot let this happen.   The House bill would cause 2 million individuals to lose their SNAP benefits entirely, 210,000 children to lose free school meals, and 850,000 households to see their benefits cut by an average $90 per month. It would also slash nutrition education funding that helps low-income families stretch limited resources to maximize nutrition.   Help MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger and our partners in the anti-hunger community send a strong message to Congress by mobilizing your networks to join the National Call-in Day organized for Tuesday, June 18th.  This is a critical opportunity to demonstrate strong support for nutrition programs to ensure access to nutritious food for Americans struggling with hunger.   Calling Congress is easy.  Here's how: Call the toll-free hotline set up by Feeding America at 866-527-1087 Listen to the pre-recorded message and enter your zip code when prompted.   Once you are connected to your Representative, state that you are a constituent and give your name and the town you are calling from.  Be sure to give the name of the organization you are affiliated with. Let them know you are calling about the Farm Bill and deliver this important message: As your constituent, I am asking you to vote against the House Farm Bill due to the harmful cuts to SNAP. Cuts to SNAP and SNAP-Ed would increase hunger and make it harder for families to access a nutritious diet. With so many families still struggling to put food on the table, it is important to protect and strengthen nutrition programs. I understand the need to reduce the deficit, but increasing hunger is not the way to do it.    Spread the word by sharing this call to action and the infographic script with your local networks and on social media.

Summer Meals Update: Summer is Here - Sites Are Open

June 12, 2013 Summer is here! School is ending and summer meal programs are starting!  WithinReach partners with OSPI to publicize summer meal programs all through the summer. OSPI is busy updating site information on a daily basis – we have over 650 sites listed already. To let families and other providers know where they can find a meal site nearby, place theSummer Meals Widget on your website to display the search tool showing meal sites in communities across Washington. Sponsors, please check your site info online Sponsors should check www.ParentHelp123.org regularly over the next few weeks to make sure site information is accurate, complete and displaying info as you intend it to. Review your sites on the Summer Meals Search Tool If sites are not listed, check back for updates If there are corrections, email or call OSPI's new Summer Meals Manager, Jennifer Mitchell at: 360-725-6056 Connect families to summer meals School is ending and summer meal programs are starting!  WithinReach partners with OSPI to publicize summer meal programs all through the summer. Families can find their closest meal site when they: Use the Summer Meals Search Tool that displays sponsor, site and meal information Call the multilingual Family Food Hotline 1-888-4-FOOD-WA (1-888-436-6392)  Text FoodWA to 877-877 Dairy Council promotes summer meals on the radio Special thanks to the Washington Dairy Council for their continuing support of the Summer Meals Program!  Statewide radio ads featuring Seahawk Mike Robinson are playing June 10 - July 31 to help families find a local site by advertising ParentHelp123.org and the Family Food Hotline. Sponsors doing exciting new things with their programs Two programs making great strides in expanding participation in their programs:  Federal Way Public Schools, the City of Federal Way, United Way of King County (UWKC) and several community-based organizations (CBOs) are collaborating to enhance the Summer Meal Program. Three school buses have been refurbished to support meal delivery and will be outfitted with books, computers and educational games. These buses and another mobile meal van will stop at apartment complexes and parks in high-need areas in Federal Way. Volunteers, managed by UWKC AmeriCorps* VISTAs and interns, will engage kids at the summer meals sites. This project has involved staff from all levels of the school district, multiple city departments, UWKC, the faith community and CBOs, in particular the Multi-Service Center, Des Moines Area Food Bank and Communities in Schools. For more information, contact Mary Weir. After researching Summer Meals best practices locally and nationally, Food Lifeline (FLL)  developed a program model called Kids Cafe that was piloted summer of 2012. Based on last year's successful pilot, FLL will be expanding to 7 sites across 5 counties and are expecting to serve 15,000 meals in 2013. Read more about Kids Cafe or contact Rebecca VanMaren for more information. Have you grown your Summer Meals Program? Send us details for future newsletters. Great ways to advertise Summer Meals Help get the word out to communities across Washington: Send a story or photo from your program to promote summer meals on WithinReach's blog.  Submit content to Sue Waldin Your school or organization can send a Summer Meals Robo Call featuring Mariner Dan Wilson.  For details, contact United Way of King County. Order and distribute FREE Summer Meals cards Check out the Summer Meals Resource Toolkit for more outreach ideas Congratulations to Feed Your Brain Grantees School’s Out Washington offers Feed Your Brain grants for summer literacy and summer meal programs for kids in rural, high poverty communities.  Congratulations to the 2013 Grantees! Washington ranks 38th among all states for participation in Summer Meals Food Research and Action Center’s (FRAC) annual report on Summer Meals - Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation, identifies huge gaps in the nutrition safety net for low-income children – across the country and in Washington: our state ranks 38th among all states in participation in the Summer Meal program.  Read more in a brief about Washington’s Summer Meals program and how communities need to step up to feed more kids. "Troubleshooting Problems that Arise during the Summer" National conference call - Tuesday July 2  10-11am FRAC will host a national conference call to help programs troubleshoot issues in their programs mid-summer and learn from seasoned experts how to boost participation and maintain your momentum!  Click here to register The WA Summer Meals Partnership sends periodic newsletters to keep statewide partners up-to-date on the latest information about the Summer Meals Program.  http://www.icontact-archive.com/C9ZecoQL5yw3xrxuUf8TXtomp7qH97Ly?w=4

AHNC Alert - Farm Bill action: Community Sign On Letter

Alert - Farm Bill action: Community Sign On Letter Full House will begin debate on the Farm Bill and they need to hear from us now!    The House will begin debate of their version of the Farm Bill in the week ofJune 17 --- the current bill proposes cutting $20.5 BILLION from food stamps (SNAP) in the next ten years. The changes in eligibility and enrollment processes would be deeply damaging to low-income people in every area of Washington State:   More than 85,000 households would lose all food stamp benefits All children in these households would lose access to free school meals   An additional 232,000 households would lose up to $90/month in food stamp benefits.   It would fundamentally change our state's food stamp outreach program, impacting social service providers' ability to help low-income clients get benefits they are eligible for.   For information about sustainable agriculture issues in the Farm Bill, please check out our partners' priorities at Washington State Farmers Market Assoc. and Washington Sustainable Food & Farming Network. We are asking you to SIGN ON to the attached letter of support for SNAP by June 14.   Attached is a letter outlining the terrible impacts of the proposed House Farm Bill --- along with the list of Washington organizations that signed on last year.  Our goal: every organization that signed on last year will do it again - and get two more organizations in their community to sign on. We will deliver this letter to every House member before they begin debate the following week.  In the 14th hungriest state in the country, with demand at food banks up 35%, and further state and local cuts to the safety net expected, Washington families need our Representatives to take a strong stand against a Farm Bill that cuts SNAP.    What to do now: Take 2 Steps for Action 1. Sign on your organization to Washington's community support letter against cuts to SNAP in the House Farm Bill. Send an email to me and say "sign us on!" 2. Send this letter on to your partner organizations and coalitions for their sign on by JUNE 14. Thank Reps. McDermott, Smith, Heck and Kilmer for co-sponsoring H. Res. 90 and urge them to stand by their pledge: Vote no on a Farm Bill if it cuts SNAP.  Thank you. We are very concerned that the House will damage the program that does the best job fighting hunger in our communities - we appreciate your strong stand alongside hungry families.   Claire Lane    ClaireL@WithinReachWA.org   (206) 830-7642