• Job Description

  Req#: 491892

  Second Harvest Heartland Jobs

  Neighbor Services Outreach Intern

  At Second Harvest Heartland , we believe our differences make us stronger. We draw strength from the unique experiences of each and every employee and our community. We aspire to foster an inclusive culture – in the way we interact with each other and in every area of our work. We commit to advancing equity to make Second Harvest Heartland a better place to work, to be a better partner and to inspire a community where equity is a driver to ultimately end hunger.

  POSITION: Summer Neighbor Services Outreach Intern – Twin Cities Metro

  LOCATION: Twin Cities Metro – various locations

  SUPERVISED BY: Neighbor Services Intern and Training Coordinator

  TIME REQUIREMENTS AND SCHEDULE

  • Total time requirement: flexible - generally a 3 month commitment; 12-15 hours per week.
  • Orientation Day: End of May, specific date TBD – 9:00am – 3:00pm, or as coordinated with hiring manager.
  • Days of the week: Flexible, generally Monday through Friday with some evening and weekend commitments required
  • Time of the day: Flexible, generally regular business hours 8:00am – 4:30pm
  • Work sites: Second Harvest Heartland office site in Brooklyn Park, as well as various partner sites throughout the Twin Cities metro.

  
  

  JOB DESCRIPTION:

  Second Harvest Heartland is a food bank that operates within 59 counties in central Minnesota, with offices located in Brooklyn Park. The Neighbor Services Department at SHH employs 30 full-time staff members that the Neighbor Services Outreach Interns work alongside in a variety of meaningful ways. The Neighbor Services Department supports families and individuals in our community experiencing food insecurity by providing information and assistance around available community food resources and the SNAP and CSFP federal nutrition programs. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) allows income-qualifying families to receive assistance in buying groceries each month in the form of an EBT card. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) provides income-qualifying seniors (ages 60+) a monthly box of shelf stable food items and a block of cheese.

  Neighbor Services Outreach Interns represent Second Harvest Heartland and interact directly with our neighbors at partner organizations (food shelves, produce distributions) and community events. In addition to referring community members to relevant food resources and programs, the interns will also work 1 day per week at our Brooklyn Park office to support our team on various administrative tasks. The Neighbor Services Outreach Interns receive supervision under the Neighbor Services team members, and are expected to participate in team meetings, professional development opportunities, and engage regularly with other interns and staff. By the end of the internship, the Neighbor Services Outreach Interns gain valuable experience in community outreach, public speaking, and interpersonal/intercultural communication, as well as an increased knowledge of federal nutrition programs.

  DUTIES:

  • Become an advocate for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and understand relevant qualifications.
  • Conduct outreach at partner organizations and community events, which will include:
    1. Speaking with clients about SNAP, CSFP and other relevant assistance programs at the county Human Services level.
    2. Gathering relevant qualification information from interested clients for food assistance programs and referring them to Second Harvest Heartland’s Care Center Team for application assistance.
    3. Providing information to individuals to increase their knowledge and future utilization of SNAP, CSFP and other resources in their community.
  • Provide feedback to Second Harvest Heartland regarding the needs of the community.
  • Be a representative of Second Harvest Heartland in the community.
  • Engage in opportunities for professional development.
  • Provide support on administrative tasks at the Brookly Park office one day per week
  • Complete other responsibilities as assigned by your supervisor.

  
  

  MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

  • Some education, or in pursuit of experience/education in a related field (social services, education, marketing, nutrition, public health, sociology, etc.)
  • Willingness to engage with culturally and financially diverse communities.
  • Some customer service experience preferred.
  • Interpersonal communication skills.
  • Time-management and organizational skills.
  • Ability to work independently and self-motivate.
  • Access to a reliable form of transportation.

  ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

  • Applicants who are bilingual are strongly encouraged to apply.
    1. Some languages in demand: Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Karen and Russian.

  
  

  PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES:

  • Making concrete, positive changes in the food security of households in Minnesota.
  • Become a knowledgeable advocate for SNAP, CSFP and other social assistance programs such as, WIC, Medical Assistance, etc.
  • Increase personal comfort and confidence with direct service to diverse and low-income populations.
  • Learn to work independently while serving an integral role within a broader team.
  • Be introduced to the inner workings of a successful non-profit and develop a range of outreach skills.
  • Gain exposure to a variety of program models by working closely with a number of other non-profits and community organizations.
  • Participate in professional development and networking opportunities.
  • Increase understanding of state and federal policies regarding federally funded programs.

  
  

• About the company

  Second Harvest Heartland is a Minneapolis-St. Paul food bank. We partner with organizations and volunteers to feed hungry people. Join us to help end hunger together.

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