Food Assistance Support Worker (EFHP)

House of Friendship of Kitchener; Kitchener; On-site; CAD 32,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

3 weeks vacation

Personal days (2 per year)

Employee Assistance Program

Group RRSP and TFSA options

Job summary

House of Friendship is hiring for a contract role to support intake, screening, warehouse operations and volunteer coordination in Waterloo Region. The position runs approximately November 19, 2026, to December 24, 2026, with a 37.5-hour week, Monday to Friday, 8:30am–4:30pm.

A valid G class driver’s license and a Vulnerable Sector check are required. The role involves assisting with program administration, data entry, stock control, and supporting volunteers.

Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of social work principles and/or food security issues is a plus.
• Proficiency with basic computer Microsoft Office applications, ability to use a database to input and retrieve participant information.
• Ability to work independently in a busy environment and adapt to new situations.
• Attention to detail and thorough record keeping.

Responsibilities

• Assist with intake, screening, program administration and volunteer support tasks.
• Assist individuals and families to identify concerns and make referrals to resources.
• Handle inquiries from persons requiring emergency food assistance.
• Reception and clerical duties including data entry and stock monitoring.

Skills

Communication

Customer service

Problem solving

Team player

Education

College education in social services

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

At House of Friendship, we believe in what we are doing. We get out of bed each day to make a difference in our community; to walk with and to serve. We are not happy with the status quo. We get energy from ongoing learning and growth. We lead with passion and believe without a doubt that everyone deserves to belong and thrive. We live and breathe our values of Compassion, Inclusion, Justice, Dignity and Hope. And we have fun!

Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? It is!

House of Friendship’s Emergency Food Hamper Program walks with our community to prevent and reduce the impacts of poverty, hunger and isolation in Waterloo Region, to contribute to a healthy, resilient community where all can belong and thrive. This position assists with intake, screening, warehouse work and other duties to support the provision of emergency food hampers.

This is a contract position, from approximately November 19, 2026, to December 24, 2026. Schedule is 37.5 hours per week; Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. Valid G class driver’s license required; frequent travel throughout Waterloo Region and other townships. Successful completion of a Police Records Check (Vulnerable Sector) required pre-employment. Key Responsibilities:

• Assist with intake, screening, program administration and volunteer support tasks
• Assist individuals and families to identify their concerns, increase awareness of and access to resources and make necessary referrals to other food service agencies
• Handle inquiries from persons requiring emergency food assistance
• Reception and clerical duties including data entry and monitoring stock levels and ordering office supplies
• Assist with special projects
• Receive, sort and organize storage of food and non-food items
• Support operations of the emergency food hamper warehouse and assist with packing food hampers
• Work with volunteers and staff to keep emergency food hampers space clean and organized
• Support program evaluation and statistics collection, as needed
• Receive and record cash/cheque donations for the food hamper program and house of Friendship
• Train new co-op students and volunteers
• In absence of supervisor, lead tours of the building and promote the program to other House of Friendship staff and external social agencies
• Assist with volunteer engagement and morale: team building, games and activities to promote positive environment

Job Specific Knowledge/Skills:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, comfort working with members of the public and participants
• Knowledge of social work principles and/or food security issues would be an asset
• Proficiency with basic computer Microsoft Office applications, ability to use a database to input and retrieve participant information
• Ability to work independently in a busy environment, problem solve and adapt to new situations
• Attention to detail, ability to achieve thoroughness and accuracy when accomplishing a task
• Ability to maintain health and safety standards and contribute to a safe and healthy workplace
• Ability to speak non-English languages would be an asset
• Knowledge of community services in the Kitchener-Waterloo region would be an asset

Education/Experience:

• College education in social services, social service worker, community development or a related field of study
• Customer service experience and experience working with the public required
• Previous warehouse and/or retail experience is an asset
• Excellent organizational skills required
• Knowledge of food safety issues required

Critical Skills:

• Commitment to understand and uphold the mission and values of House of Friendship is expected
• Exemplary emotional intelligence, resilience, communication, conflict management and problem-solving skills required
• Ability to work professionally as a team member with staff, participants and community members
• Experience or strong interest in working with diverse populations including people from various cultural backgrounds, income levels, and sensitivity to their needs
• Experience with and commitment to using an anti-racism, anti-oppressive and trauma informed approach to consultation, program design, evaluations of processes and service delivery
• Must be dependable, professional, flexible, a team player, and have a positive attitude
• Respectful, supportive and engaging approach to persons with physical and/or cognitive disabilities, addictions, mental illness and other life challenges
• Excellent project, timeline and deadline management skills including skills in logistics, planning and detailed record keeping

Compensation:

At House of Friendship, we know that our team members are the key to the success of our organization and our ability to provide essential services to the community. In support of our mission and in alignment with our values, House of Friendship is committed to ensuring fair, market competitive, and rewarding compensation practices for all of our team members. We aspire to support our team members to create a great work environment where our team is able to thrive, succeed, and have a positive work experience.

House of Friendship compensation practices including our pay grid, have been developed using documented leading pay practices in the not-for-profit sector including Pathways to Decent Work (Ontario Nonprofit Network) and Ontario Living Wage Network. We value the experience that new team members bring to the organization and have a process in place to review previous related experience for placement on our pay grid.

We value the work that you do with fair pay and benefits:

• 3weeks vacation, pay on each pay with opportunity to have vacation pay deposited into a separate account to save for when vacation time is taken, 2 paid personal days annually
• Employee and Family Assistance program
• We help you save for the future by providing access toGroup RRSP and Group TFSAoptions

Rate of Pay:

At House of Friendship all compensation ranges are categorized under a series of “grades” and we base our payment structure on internal equity.When determining rate of pay, a candidate’s past related experience will be taken into consideration.

Grade: 4

Min: $23.43

Mid: $26.45

Max: $29.48

Working Conditions:

• This position involves some heavy lifting
• Must be physically able to lift and move boxes and bags up to 40 pounds
• Must be able to stand for several hours.
• Encountering participants at program sites who may be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, and/or experiencing symptoms of mental illness can be expected

This role is being posted to fill a current vacancy.

House of Friendship is open and inviting to qualified candidates with lived experience.

House of Friendship supports justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace. We strive to be a workplace free of harassment and discrimination and we are committed to removing barriers and being an inclusive, work environment. House of Friendship is a place where each person can bring their true selves and feel that they belong. We aspire to be an organization that is anti-racist and anti-oppressive so that our team, and therefore our community, can truly belong and thrive.

We invite applications from all qualified candidates and actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to accessing employment including, but not limited to Indigenous Peoples, members of racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

If yo require accommodations to be able to participate fully at any stage in the recruitment process, including applying for this position, please let us know so that we can discuss accommodation options. Accommodations will be provided upon request.

If you are as passionate as we are about serving the community, let’s talk.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not being used in the screening of applications.