Summer Associate - MCNCE Food Access Coordinator

Land to Hand (L2H) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in the Flathead Valley, Montana. Our mission is to build a strong community food system that fosters social just ways of accessing food. We strengthen our community food system through hands-on, comprehensive education and food access for everyone regardless of income. The goal of this project is to alleviate poverty by operating multiple food access programs during the summer which enhance community resilience by connecting all members of our community with nourishing food. We offer a variety of food access programs at the Kalispell and Whitefish farmers markets that help make fresh, local produce available to everyone regardless of income including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Double SNAP Dollars, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and School Coins. Our project offers a produce prescription program to participants living with diet-related chronic illness who struggle to get enough fruits and vegetables weekly. Land to Hand’s Youth Nutrition programs provide essential food access to children and families in Columbia Falls and surrounding areas include the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), the Weekend Backpack Program, and the Kids and Family Pantry. Partnerships with Columbia Falls School District 6 provides garden and nutrition education to Flathead Valley students in the Wildcat Garden and in classrooms. In the summer, this includes Hands in the Dirt Summer Camp and free family cooking classes. Montana Campus Network for Civic Engagement (MCNCE) serves as the intermediary for this project. MCNCE is a coalition of colleges and universities dedicated to fostering civic engagement, service learning, and volunteerism across Montana. Led by CEOs from participating institutions, MCNCE works to improve community life and educate students on civic and social responsibility, preparing them to be thoughtful, compassionate, and engaged leaders.

The member will serve Tuesday-Saturday. The member will support the implementation of Land to Hand’s (L2H) food access and education programming and will also support staff in recruiting, training, and supervising volunteers. Members will need to be able to stand outside in all kinds of weather, for up to six hours at a time, and be able to lift up to 30 pounds. The member will support L2H staff at farmers markets in implementing food access programs. Members will interact directly with program participants in program navigation. The member will support L2H staff in implementing the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), the Weekend Backpack Program, and the Kids & Family Pantry. Members will hand out lunches & record data for the SFSP, inspect the community refrigerator daily, and assist in bagging and delivering food bundles. The member will also support L2H staff in implementing the Hands in the Dirt Summer Camp program and Family Cooking Classes.

Land to Hand is an equal opportunity employer committed to equitable hiring practices, and believes that many of the qualifications and skills listed below can be taught to the right candidate. If you are interested in the position and enthusiastic, but do not meet all of the qualifications, we would love for you to apply!