PRISM - Seeking Food Rescue Drivers

Volunteer Job Description - Driver

PRISM seeks to be a leader in creating meaningful and impactful volunteer experiences for community members. Our ability to best serve the community is hinged on our capacity to physically do the work, as well as having the trust and involvement of community stakeholders.

Volunteers are key components in PRISMs mission of providing social services and connections that empower people in our community to build healthy, stable lives, and our vision to lead in providing innovative and dignified services that foster resilient individuals and a healthier, more sustainable community.

Volunteer Duties and Requirements

We have a big need for ongoing Food Rescue Drivers! Using PRISMs vehicle, the Driver drives to specific retail stores in the west metropolitan area to pick up donated food. This role is critical in assuring our participants receive high-quality food when visiting our Marketplace Food Shelf, and that food being discarded by local supermarket chains is distributed to our households. Volunteer drivers supporting the Marketplace Food Shelf will perform a variety of duties including:

• Collecting donations from west metropolitan area retail stores, ex: Target, Cub Foods and HyVee
• Load the vehicle at the rescue food site location, ensuring the PRISM vehicle remains organized an accessible for distribution
• Unload the vehicle at PRISM facility.
• Separate and deliver donated food to each specific storage area of PRISM: cooler, freezer, nonperishable foods
• Weighing and documenting total amount of lbs. collected after pick-up route
• Break down packaging for trash and recycling
• Maintain a clean, safe, and orderly vehicle and work environment
• Notify Volunteer Manager of any challenges with pick-up and/or route.
• Comfort working alongside another volunteer, providing shadow opportunities to new volunteers as needed

Knowledge, Skills, Education, Experience:

• Effective interpersonal skills under all types of conditions, exhibiting a supportive, direct, and positive approach with participants, staff and other volunteers
• Experience working with diverse populations with the demonstrated ability to communicate and relate effectively to a wide variety of individuals
• Passion for food insecurity
• Ability to work flexible hours, generally between mornings and afternoons, as needed
• Must have a valid drivers license and insurance
• Be able to lift 30+ pounds, stand for duration of shift, bend and twist
• Be able to use step stools, ladders, and use dolly
• Be able to use scissors and box-cutters
• Must wear close-toed footwear
• Must not have a misdemeanor or felony record

If you are interested in this opportunity, please reach out to Colette Illarde, Volunteer Manager, at 763-432-4230 or [email protected]