Food Pantry Associate

Make the Road New York

Far Rockaway, Queens, NY, USA

Published: 6/14/2022

Job Description

Make the Road New York (MRNY) builds the power of immigrant and working-class communities to achieve dignity and justice through organizing, policy innovation, transformative education, and survival services. Make the Road New York operates community centers in Bushwick, Brooklyn; Jackson Heights, Queens; Port Richmond, Staten Island; Brentwood, Long Island and White Plains, Westchester County. With a membership of 28,000, MRNY tackles the critical issues facing our communities, including workplace justice, tenants’ rights, immigrant rights and civil rights, TGNCIQ justice, public education, health care access, and immigration reform. (TGNCIQ = transgender, gender non-conforming, intersex and queer). MRNY is a newly unionized workplace.

MRNY is a multi-service organization. Our member-led organizing committees -- which work on the issues named above -- implement strategies to combat shared problems, and develop leadership and the capacity for civic participation. We also provide an array of high-quality bilingual services: We offer English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Spanish-language literacy, computer literacy, citizenship preparation, and in-school and after-school youth programs. We have a robust legal program that offers direct representation across a spectrum of practice areas, including employment law, immigration law, housing and benefits, and TGNCIQ civil rights; we also take on impact litigation as a strategy for achieving broad change. Our health program offers facilitated enrollment into health insurance programs and SNAP benefits, a community health worker home visit program, nutrition education and emergency food pantries, health care navigation, and more."

MRNY's health department promotes the health and well-being of our community members. They advocate for improved access to healthcare for immigrant and low income people, and provide health services to community members. The health department combines one-on-one assistance, helping individuals and families navigate the health system and apply for health insurance coverage, programs, and SNAP. They run 2 community food pantries in Brooklyn and Queens. They have a robust health promotore program, and conduct outreach and education to the community and connect them to resources and information. Our Community Health Worker home visiting programs assist patients in reaching their health goals. The health team also leads campaigns at the city and state level to increase access to care and coverage for all regardless of immigration status in New York.

Current Opening:

The Food Pantry Associate is a part time position based in Queens and works 30 hours weekly. They manage logistics and operations for the Brooklyn and Queens food pantries while abiding by all health and safety regulations. Each food pantry location distributes food once a week and serves on average 500 households per week across both sites. The Food Pantry Associate completes all pantry food orders, schedules deliveries, manages distribution, and is responsible for reporting, data entry and volunteer recruitment and coordination. They ensure pantry distribution is well organized, efficient and fosters a respectful environment. Additionally, they connect clients and community members to all MRNY services, events, and campaigns and the MRNY mission to create collective community power. This is a bargaining unit position.

Key Responsibilities but not limited to:

Manage, coordinate and oversee the day to day food operations of the Brooklyn and Queens pantry.
Place food orders and coordinate deliveries for both the Brooklyn and Queens pantries using multiple platforms, such as, DRISCOL and Foodbank NYC, among others.
Responsible for opening the office on pantry delivery and distribution days to set up the pantry and receive volunteers. Cleaning and organizing the office and pantry space afterwards. The delivery day schedule starts at 8AM and the distribution day schedule starts at 6AM.
Receive and accept order shipments upon arrival, check for contaminated or spoiled foods, and organize and label boxes. Inspect, organize, and maintain food storage areas in compliance with Local, State and Federal health, safety and sanitation requirements and regulations.
Lift and transport boxes of food weighing 25lbs or more throughout the day, including ascending and descending stairs, and operate equipment such as hand trucks and conveyor belts to support food distribution.
Greet participants on distribution days, including scheduling appointments and providing a welcoming environment; address and resolve any issues or concerns that arise with participants and volunteers to ensure smooth and respectful delivery and distribution operations.
Collaborate with other departments’ staff to distribute emergency food bags and coordinate the referral of participants to the pantry, ensuring timely support.
Manage the food pantry ring central call line extension accepting new participants for pantry distribution, accordingly.
Work closely with and support Administrative staff to coordinate space, supplies and other logistical needs.
Recruit and coordinate pantry volunteers, at both sites, to assist with deliveries and distribution. Provide guidance, training, and assign roles to pantry volunteers on daily responsibilities.
Check in and register volunteers and participants
Collaborate with Human Resources in the coordination of mandatory volunteer trainings and onboarding process to ensure compliance.
Enter and maintain accurate monthly data, including reporting through the Feed NYC system and completing other data entry tasks in a timely manner.
Maintain our food pantry resource guides updated
Maintain updated certifications: Food Safety certification and Food Protection certification
Participate in orgwide trainings, activities, and actions. Attend mandatory all-staff, department, and team meetings.
Work with MRNY’s Health Department to identify health issues of concern and work with the MRNY Health Department to develop strategies to solve systemic issues in the health system.
Support with short term organizational and Health Department projects, as needed.

Requirements:

Eligible to work in the U.S
Bilingual (English/Spanish) required
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Ability to work under pressure
Ability to mediate conflict
Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-energy environment
Strong computer skills (web-based database, word processing, Excel, etc.)
Ability to frequently stand, walk, & climb stairs.
Ability to lift a minimum of 25 lbs at a time
High level of accountability and initiative; needs to be a self-starter and eager to engage in teamwork to support the organization as a whole
Ability to work early morning hours starting at 6am Wednesdays and Fridays
Ability to work in both Brooklyn and Queens
Flexible work schedule
Experience in customer service
Ability to guide a team of volunteers

Job Competencies:

Self-starter with strong organizational skills and strong attention to detail
Be highly professional and team oriented with a passion for excellence and eagerness to help the department meet our goals.
Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and complete assignments under strict deadlines with minimal supervision in a fast paced environment.
Ability to work under pressure required.
Have a working knowledge of spreadsheets, Microsoft Office suite, and using a database (ideally Salesforce) to run reports.
Flexible work schedule, some evenings or weekends required
Strong verbal and written communication skills
High level of accountability and initiative; needs to be a self-starter and eager to do team work to support the organization as a whole

Salary and Benefits:

MRNY offers an excellent benefit package including health insurance, 401K, and generous paid vacation, sick, personal days. The hourly range for this position is from $27.98 to $30.00

How to Apply:

Please attach cover letter/resume and submit all documents to the Make the Road New York career center.

Make the Road believes that social change is best achieved through grassroots community-based organizing that flows directly from and engages the community demanding the change. As a membership-based organization, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, criminal history, or Veteran status. We strongly encourage those from historically excluded groups to apply.