Position overview
Our lead pantry volunteer is needed to keep our free pantry running smoothly by doing everything from stocking, organizing and inventory to interacting with community members to get them the essential items they need. Pantry hours are a more social atmosphere with lots of personal interaction. You will be coordinating pantry duties with other volunteers. Volunteers that have transportation and don’t mind driving may help with retrieving items for the pantry from other community resource locations, but is not a necessity.
Tasks
Tasks may include the following:
- Overseeing pantry operations on Mondays and Fridays from 1-3pm.
- Stocking the pantry shelves inside SJC as well as our free pantry, outside the building.
- Assisting community members in the pantry area to secure food and essential items they are in need of.
- Pick up food and essential items from other community resources, such as the Diaper Bank and Second Harvest and donation sites when needed...not a necessity.
- Keeping the pantry area clean and organized.
- Record any items that we are in need of.
- Record distributions.
Skills
- Ability to communicate with SJC staff, other volunteers and community members.
- Able to lift light to moderately heavy objects.
- Stock pantry inside SJC and the Willy Street Pantry on Few Street
- Organizational skills
- Self-motivated to work productively without intense supervision
- Navigate Madison in order to retrieve donated items from various agencies
Setting
The main pantry is located on the lower level of the Social Justice Center. This is where the majority of the inventory of food and essential items are located. Items will be received, sorted and organized here. The Willy Street Pantry is outside on the Few Street terrace. There are wagons and dollies available to assist in moving the products to the desired location.
Schedule
Pantry hours are 1-3pm on Mondays and Fridays. It is crucial for our lead pantry volunteer to be present during these shifts.
Training and supervision
New volunteers will attend a 1-2 hour orientation and shadow staff or another volunteer a few shifts, depending on the new volunteer’s comfort level. We will work with volunteers to ensure their understanding of the tasks at hand and location of needed supplies. If needed we are happy to train volunteers on how to use Discord (a chat application) but this is not a technology intensive role.
Screening
We will do an informal interview to make sure all parties think it’s a good fit. If you are interested in volunteering as part of an outside/third-party program, such as earning hours for credit or fulfilling a community service requirement, prospective volunteers should bring this up during the informal interview or before beginning volunteer hours. We’re more than happy to have volunteers join our team who are participating in these kinds of programs as long as we have the following:
- Name of program (deferred prosecution, RSVP, National Honor Society etc.)
- Program contact person
- Any relevant informational materials from the program (forms, program requirements, agreements etc.)
- Clear understanding of what you and the program need from SJC, such as documentation procedures and any other requirements
