Bridge Shelter Kitchen Assistant

The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia is “a place with a heart.” Our mission is to feed the hungry, house the homeless, and prevent homelessness.

The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia employs compassionate, skilled professionals who are committed to excellence, enjoy teamwork, and contribute daily to our mission and culture of caring. Team members experience a friendly atmosphere, leadership support, autonomy, flexibility, and the privilege of doing meaningful, rewarding work.

The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia (NHCWV) Bridge Kitchen Assistant is responsible for assisting the kitchen team to prepare and serve daily lunches and dinners to community members experiencing homelessness. 

The Bridge Shelter Kitchen provides a venue through which the West Volusia community can work together to feed vulnerable clients, and the Bridge Community Room provides a structured, communal space for community client visitors to the day center and shelter residents experiencing homelessness.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Food Preparation:
   • Follow written recipes according to portion control standards.
   • Preparing fresh ingredients by washing, peeling, and chopping.
   • Use industrial gas stove and commercial oven to bake, sauté, and boil ingredients
   • Safely employ knives, utensils, and other kitchen equipment independently.
2. Meals and Customer Service:
   • Serve meals to guests cafeteria-style using a standardized portion.
   • Refill dishes when needed to prevent slowdown in service.
   • Uphold a professional, welcoming, and courteous demeanor while interacting with clients, residents, and team members.
3. Hygiene and Sanitation:
   • During and after meals, wash dishes by hand or with electric dishwasher.
   • Remove trash from kitchen and dining room.
   • Mop the kitchen and dining room floors, clean the mop and bucket and hang to dry
   • Adhere to safety protocols and guidelines while handling cleaning chemicals and equipment.
   • Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure personal safety during cleaning tasks.
4. Kitchen Organization:
   • Properly label cooked food and ingredients in the cooler and freezer.
   • Maintain the organization of the dry goods pantry and kitchen equipment according to expectation set by Kitchen Manager.
5. Volunteer Collaboration:
   • Working alongside volunteers from the community, offer guidance and assistance when needed.
   • Alert the Bridge Shelter Kitchen Manager to any issues that arise with volunteers, including safety concerns, injuries, or other issues warranting the completion of an Incident Report.