What are the responsibilities and job description for the Child Nutrition Summer Intern position at Operation Food Search?
Description
About Operation Food Search:
Founded in 1981, Operation Food Search is a hunger relief organization that provides food, nutrition education, and innovative programs in order to reduce food insecurity and increase equitable access to food. We serve more than 200,000 people every month through a network of more than 600 partners in 24 counties in Missouri and Illinois. As Missouri’s largest independent food bank, we use a combination of immediate food assistance and supportive services, while also working on long-term solutions and systemic changes to help solve the problem of hunger.
Our Mission is to heal hunger with innovative and collaborative solutions that provide food today and help create a hunger-free tomorrow.
Our Vision is a region where everyone has equitable access to the food they need to lead healthy lives.
Our Goals Are To
Position Summary
The Child Nutrition Summer Intern will help to facilitate our direct-serve summer meals program, operating at dozens of meal sites in partnership with community organizations. Their contributions will result in greater awareness of meal sites, higher attendance, more community involvement, and better experience for those we serve.
Essential Functions
Special Requirements:
About Operation Food Search:
Founded in 1981, Operation Food Search is a hunger relief organization that provides food, nutrition education, and innovative programs in order to reduce food insecurity and increase equitable access to food. We serve more than 200,000 people every month through a network of more than 600 partners in 24 counties in Missouri and Illinois. As Missouri’s largest independent food bank, we use a combination of immediate food assistance and supportive services, while also working on long-term solutions and systemic changes to help solve the problem of hunger.
Our Mission is to heal hunger with innovative and collaborative solutions that provide food today and help create a hunger-free tomorrow.
Our Vision is a region where everyone has equitable access to the food they need to lead healthy lives.
Our Goals Are To
- Meet the immediate need for food for children, individuals, and families by providing high-quality nutrition through our distribution network.
- Empower long-term skills through nutrition education and by teaching how to shop and prepare healthy food on a budget.
- Champion change through advocacy and innovative programs and by addressing systemic inequities.
Position Summary
The Child Nutrition Summer Intern will help to facilitate our direct-serve summer meals program, operating at dozens of meal sites in partnership with community organizations. Their contributions will result in greater awareness of meal sites, higher attendance, more community involvement, and better experience for those we serve.
Essential Functions
- Conduct community outreach to boost participation at meal sites, which will include producing and distributing flyers and marketing materials.
- Develop and coordinate enrichment activities at meal sites to connect with participating children and increase nutrition education.
- Develop and facilitate program evaluation, employing methods which may include online surveys, virtual interviews, or in-person surveys and interviews with our meal site coordinators, participant guardians, and participants.
- Analyze program evaluation data and prepare report detailing findings.
- Organize and review records related to SFSP, ensuring accuracy and USDA compliance.
- Support in the training and leading of volunteers for meal production to ensure proper packing of meals.
- Current enrollment in a Bachelor’s or Master’s program in a related field such as Public Health, Nutrition, Social Work, Nonprofit Management, Public Policy, Sociology, or a similar discipline.
- Candidates with a demonstrated interest in food insecurity, hunger relief, or social justice are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Relevant coursework or project experience addressing community health, food systems, poverty, or equity is a plus.
- Must be 18 years of age.
- A great attitude and willingness to work on all kinds of projects.
- Passion for addressing food insecurity and commitment to social impact work.
- Commitment to working with diverse communities.
- Reliable, responsible, and a good work ethic with a high attention to detail.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with diverse populations.
- Ability to work independently.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and basic comfort with virtual meeting platforms (e.g., Zoom, Teams).
- Reliable access to transportation and valid driver’s license.
- Ability and willingness to participate in physical task-work including counting and moving packaged foods and limited warehouse work.
Special Requirements:
- Occasional travel required for site visits.
- Sedentary inside office work with limited exposure to weather conditions.
- Ability to stand for extended periods of time.
- Ability to lift items up to 20 pounds and move food items using a pallet jack.