Food Justice Assistant

The Lower Eastside Girls Club of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 20,000 - 29,000; Part time

Job summary

The Center for Wellbeing and Happiness (CWBH) at the Lower East Side Girls Club in New York is seeking a part-time Food Justice Assistant to support food pantry and community outreach efforts. This role reports to the Food Justice Manager and involves hands-on food distribution and inventory tasks.

The position offers roughly 10 hours per week with a schedule including Tuesdays, 1pm-6pm, and emphasizes dignity, respect, and empowerment for clients and volunteers.

Qualifications

• Experience working in a food pantry, nonprofit, or community program.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with staff and volunteers.
• Professional working proficiency in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin is a plus.
• Experience with inventory management or food distribution is a plus.
• Food Handler or Food Protection certification is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support the daily operations of the food pantry and Food Farmacy under the Food Justice Manager.
• Assist with receiving, unloading, shelving, stocking, organizing, and distributing food deliveries.
• Maintain accurate food inventory and organize pantry and storage spaces.
• Support pantry clients with respect, dignity, and discretion in a welcoming environment.
• Assist with pantry distribution including client check-in and bag preparation.
• Work with volunteers during stock maintenance, distribution, and cleanup.
• Help monitor food quality, storage conditions, expiration dates, and safety.
• Assist with data collection, record keeping, and tracking pantry participation.
• Identify opportunities to reduce food waste and improve efficiency.
• Support food justice programs and community events as needed.

Skills

Positive Attitude

Community

Food Justice

Organization

Time Management

Communication

Coordination

Problem Solving

Facilitation

Cooperation

Physical Capacity

Job description

The Center for Wellbeing and Happiness (CWBH) is seeking a part-time Food Justice Assistant to support our community food access and food justice efforts! CWBH, an initiative of the Lower East Side Girls Club (LESGC), provides free programs to Lower East Side community members of all generations and genders. Reporting to the Food Justice Manager, the Food Justice Intern will support the day-to-day operations of our food pantry and Food Farmacy, as well as community engagement and food distribution efforts. This is a part-time position of approximately 10 hours per week.

For over two decades, the Girls Club has offered innovative nutrition, food justice, urban farming, and culinary education. Since the start of the pandemic, we have deepened our impact through our food distribution efforts serving our community. In response to rising food insecurity, the Girls Club launched a food pantry in March 2020 to offer shelf-stable items, fresh produce, and proteins to families and individuals in need. Today, our food access programs provide healthy food and resources to hundreds of Lower East Side community members each week.

Responsibilities

• Support the daily operations of the food pantry and Food Farmacy, working closely with the Food Justice Manager
• Assist with receiving, unloading, shelving, stocking, organizing, and distributing food deliveries
• Along with pantry staff, maintain accurate food inventory and help organize pantry and storage spaces
• Support pantry clients with respect, dignity, and discretion, helping to create a welcoming space of abundance and wellbeing
• Assist with pantry distribution, including client check-in, bag preparation, client choice, and walk-in distribution
• Work with and support pantry volunteers during stock maintenance, pantry setup, food distribution, and cleanup
• Help monitor food quality, storage conditions, expiration dates, and overall food safety
• Support the development and distribution of healthy recipes and food resources using ingredients available through the pantry and Food Farmacy
• Assist with data collection, record keeping, and tracking pantry participation, inventory, and distribution
• Help identify opportunities to reduce food waste, improve pantry efficiency, and strengthen the client experience
• Support CWBH food justice programs, events, and other community programming as needed
• Communicate regularly with the Food Justice Manager regarding pantry operations, client needs, inventory, and challenges

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Positive Attitude – Maintain a positive, supportive, and constructive attitude and disposition with clients, staff, volunteers, and community partners
• Community – Ability to understand and respond to community needs while respecting the history, culture, and diversity of the Lower East Side
• Food Justice – Understanding of food insecurity, food access, health equity, and the ways that structural inequities impact access to healthy food
• Organization – Ability to manage inventory, maintain organized spaces and records, set priorities, and manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously
• Time Management – Ability to manage time effectively, work independently, and communicate proactively with the Food Justice Manager
• Communication – Ability to communicate clearly and respectfully with clients, volunteers, colleagues, and community partners
• Coordination – Ability to coordinate food distribution activities, volunteers, deliveries, and community resources
• Problem Solving – Ability to find creative and practical solutions to operational challenges, stretch resources, reduce waste, and adapt to changing circumstances
• Facilitation – Ability to share information, respond to questions, reinforce ideas, and adapt communication to different audiences
• Cooperation – Ability to establish positive, supportive relationships with participants, colleagues, volunteers, and partners from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds
• Physical Capacity – Ability to lift and carry at least 20 pounds and assist with the physical aspects of food pantry operations, including moving food, stocking shelves, and organizing deliveries

Education and Experience

• Experience working in a food pantry, community food program, community center, nonprofit, kitchen, or related setting
• Understanding of food insecurity, food access, health equity, and social justice
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with staff and volunteers
• Experience with inventory management, food distribution, community outreach, or volunteer coordination is a plus
• Professional working proficiency in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin is a plus
• Experience delivering services to families and individuals in the Lower East Side/Chinatown is a plus
• Food Handler or Food Protection certification is a plus

Hourly Rate

$18.00/ hour

Schedule

• Approximately 10 hours per week
• Schedule (hours subject to change as needed):
• Tuesdays, 1pm-6pm