Community Action Center Food Access Intern (CCCE)

**NOTE: This is a low or unfunded opportunity. You will be eligible to apply for summer internship funding from Carleton if you will be returning to campus in the fall.

Position Summary:
CAC is looking for a Food Access Intern to support our hunger relief efforts in Rice County. This role offers variety, challenge, and rewarding connections and will give students a firsthand opportunity to learn about food access, human services, and the nonprofit sector. 

General support of day-to-day operation of our food shelves involves a mix of community engagement, physical work, independent initiative and close collaboration with a professional team. 

Spanish language skills are not required, but Spanish language learners will have daily opportunities to speak conversational Spanish. Summer Interns play an important role in ensuring that our food shelves embody a culture of abundance, hope, support, and appreciation for those we serve.

Reports to: Food Access Program Director

Primary Location: Positions are open for Northfield, Faribault, or both

Hour Status: up to 40 hours

Primary Job Responsibilities:

● Food Program Support:

• Assist in general food shelf operations, data collection, inventory, and maintenance
• Provide logistical support for food donation, rescue, transfer and delivery, utilizing the CAC cargo van as needed
• Process incoming food rescue and other donated food for distribution
• Comply with federal regulations set forth by TEFAP, food recalls, safe food handling, and civil rights training, follow all safety procedures and communicate appropriately

● Community Engagement:

• Build relationships with participants and work with CAC leadership to identify new areas of opportunity for outreach and engagement
• Support the home delivery program, food rescue and mobile distributions
• Collaborate closely with the Food Access Team and other CAC staff to connect participants with other food resources and provide a seamless referral to other support services

General Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate commitment to the agency’s mission: “To promote a healthy, caring, and just community for all people through resources, advocacy, and volunteer effort.”
• Employ trauma-responsive, person-centered care practices to create a safe and healing space, build relationships, foster agency, and invest in the long-term well-being of participants
• Utilize crisis intervention and conflict resolution skills to support individuals and families in need
• Follow all mandated reporting laws for vulnerable adults as well as child abuse and neglect
• Attend and actively participate in regularly scheduled organization and team meetings and trainings

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

• Blend of typical office environment and warehouse environment. Exposure to computers, copiers, scanners and printers, scales, pallet jacks, and minimal noise level
• Must have a valid driver’s license and be willing to train to drive CAC’s van
• While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, climb stairs, bend, kneel, use hands to write, use computers, and lift up to 40 lbs.

Equal Opportunity:
CAC is an equal-opportunity organization. CAC believes that the most efficient and effective workplaces employ employees with diverse backgrounds. We strive to create a work environment where all employees and individuals, regardless of race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, public assistance status, or veteran status, can succeed and make an impact in the community.

COMMUNITY ACTION CENTER 

At the Community Action Center (CAC), we are “neighbors helping neighbors.” Our programs – from Creating Homes to Feeding the Hungry – meet the most basic needs of individuals and families who are seeking help.

As a nonprofit organization serving the life-sustaining needs of those in our area, many people rely on the CAC for support as they seek independence. Our mission is to promote a healthy, caring, and just community for all people through resources, advocacy, and volunteer effort.