POSITION: Food Forward Ventura County Program Assistant
ORGANIZATION: Food Forward, http://www.foodforward.org
HOURS: Flexibility required, 4-6hrs / week. Max hours 25/month
COMPENSATION: $12/hr
ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW
Food Forward’s mission is to rescue local produce that would otherwise go to waste, connecting this abundance with people in need, and inspiring others to do the same.
POSITION
The Ventura County Program Assistant will help with the general management and communication of volunteers, agencies and property owners as well as scheduling “pick” events in Ventura County. The Program Assistant will report to Ventura County Director.The responsibilities include:
· Property Scouting
· Maintain equipment inventory
· Vehicle maintenance (smog certified, tires, gas, pick box supplies, washed
· Shopping for events, office supplies, volunteer meals
· Deliver and pick up equipment for small pick events around the county (boxes, buckets, ladders, poles)
· Pick up fruit from small events around the county (max load 900 lbs) requires lifting 40 lb boxes
· Research possible equipment barns until office space/storage is secured
· Weekly Facebook and Twitter postings
· Update VC metrics (picks, lbs, volunteers, hours) weekly on assorted spreadsheets
· Help relocate into new office space
· Collect company email addresses from Ventura County volunteers thru their release waivers (for future fundraising purposes)
· Update the flyer template for companies wanting to post a Food Forward flyer announcing an upcoming pick event
· Other tasks as needed to assist the VC DirectorQUALIFICATIONS:
We are looking for a highly organized self-starter. Candidate should possess very good writing skills, be creative, organized, detail oriented, excellent follow through, and interested in food justice and community building.
Other qualifications include:
– Excellent communication skills
– Strong people and relationship building skills
– Flexibility to work some weekends
– Valid Driver’s license and clean record
– Knowledge and comfort with Twitter, Facebook and other social mediaHOW TO APPLY: Please attach your current resume as a PDF and create a cover letter in the body of the email explaining your interest in the position and email to info@foodforward.org”>info@foodforward.org, with the subject line reading, “Ventura County Program Assistant- (YOUR NAME HERE).” Only the applicants who follow directions will be considered.
Dear Fruit World,
We are pleased to present the first edition of Fresh Juice for 2011. This month will see us closing out our second year (Jan. 17th is our actual anniversary in case you were wanting to know which day to send the roses).
We have AMAZING picks scheduled throughout the month and welcome groups, couples, singles, families, and Fruit Loops of all varieties to sign up and get picking with us. Valley Glen, Simi or points north…It’s all here.
If you are predisposed to take a drive over MLK weekend, please join us for one or both days of FRUITSTOCK 2011 – when we pick delicious Mandarins at two Santa Barbara locations on January 15th and 16th, and gather for a potluck dinner after the pick on the 15th. (If you were with us for Mandarin Madness last year, you know this is something not to miss.)
Though we love rain, and know it’s part of our cosmic cycle, PRAY for sunny weekends and join us as we head towards our second birthday and 300,000th pound!
HARVEST FOOD * FIGHT HUNGER * BUILD COMMUNITY
Please visit www.foodforward.org/events to view and register for our events.
A big thanks to Sunday’s volunteers for harvesting 291 lbs of juicy Valencia oranges – 100% going to LA’s hungry this week!
Dear Food Forward Friends & Supporters,
We are very excited to announce the first fundraiser for our organization in the form of a book launch reception and signing of our founder Rick Nahmias’ brand new book “Golden States of Grace: Prayers of the Disinherited,” a thought-provoking photo-documentary look at religion on the margins of California.
“‘Golden States of Grace’ brings together such depth and diversity of faith and humanity, that it is seems three-dimensional. It is hard to think of another body of work which looks so compassionately at the faces and voices of disinherited peoples while asking us to think deeply about and how we own or disown those on the margins. It is a book for anyone who has ever felt left out, pushed out, or just wondered what it feels like to be on the outside – that is, a book for all of us.” -Sister Helen Prejean, Author “Dead Man Walking”
Through a generous arrangement with the publisher, University of New Mexico Press, Food Forward will receive a full 50% from the sale of EVERY PAPERBACK copy sold at this event only.
Date: Saturday October 2, 2010
Time: 4:30-7pm
Where: UCLA’s Religious Conference
900 Hilgard Avenue, 1st Floor
Westwood, CA 90024
Please see the attached PDF for details of the event, and please feel free to share it with your friends, family & congregations.
Though this is an event open to all, and there is no fee, an RSVP is required to attend, in the form of a call to our fruitline at 818-530-4125 or to this email or marie@foodforward.org
We hope you will join us – and pass word (and the attached PDF) along about this event – a great way to support Food Forward and get an early look, and a signed copy, of an exciting and truly unique new book!
We hope to see you there,
The Food Forward Team
Hello Food Forward Volunteers!
As some of you may know, THIS Saturday we are picking Valencia oranges on a huge, lush estate in Montecito (near Oprah’s estate) from 9AM-3PM, with a light lunch provided by the Food Forward crew in the middle of the day.
We’ve had a decent turn-out so far, but could still use at least another 30 volunteers! The drive to Montecito from Sherman Oaks is a short 75 minutes along PCH, so if you’re interested in meeting at a central location in the Valley and carpooling with someone, please e-mail marie@foodforward.org. If you’d like to attend this fantastic volunteer event, please RSVP to marie@foodforward.org with the following information:
Other events that could use an extra hand or two…
9-18-10 – Saturday
Event: Citrus Pick
Start Time: 9:30 AM
End Time: 11:30 AM
Where: Chatsworth
Details: Come join the FF crew at a HUGE property in Chatsworth! We need lots of volunteers, so please RSVP with a friend!
9-18-10 – Saturday
Event: Citrus Pick
Start Time: 10:00 AM
End Time: 12:00 PM
Where: San Fernando Valley, TBD
Details: To follow.
9-19-10 – Sunday
Event: Citrus Pick
Start Time: 9:30 AM
End Time: 11:30 AM
Where: Granada Hills
Details: Come join FF as we harvest 5 Valencia orange trees in Granada Hills.
We hope to see you all in a tree soon!
Sincerely,
The Food Forward Team
818-554-8696 (Carl’s cell)
Twitter: @foodforwardla
Facebook group: Food Forward
818-530-4125
P.O. Box 48818
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Hello Food Forward Volunteers!
We are looking forward to September kicking off our juice-filled fall and are excited to announce this month’s Fresh Juice announcing September’s picks and events. We hope that you all can make it to one! Below are the calendared events:
Please RSVP via this e-mail with the following information to reserve your spot(s):
Please note: the exact address of the pick will be given out only to confirmed pickers 48-72 hours prior to the pick.
9-11-2010 – Saturday
Event: BIG Citrus Pick
Start Time: 9:00 AM
End Time: 3:00 PM
Where: Montecito
Details: Come join team Food Forward for a fun day of picking as we partner up with Backyard Bounty and the Santa Barbara Food Bank for the second year in a row at a lush private estate in Montecito just 75 minutes north of the San Fernando Valley! The FF team will bring a light lunch for all of those who join!
9-14-10 – Tuesday
Event: Citrus Sunset Pick
Start Time: 6:00 PM
End Time: 7:30 PM
Where: San Fernando Valley, TBD
Details: Join the FF crew for a fun, relaxing sunset pick!
9-18-10 – Saturday
Event: Citrus Pick
Start Time: 9:30 AM
End Time: 11:30 AM
Where: Chatsworth
Details: Come join the FF crew at a HUGE property in Chatsworth! We need lots of volunteers, so please RSVP with a friend!
9-18-10 – Saturday
Event: Citrus Pick
Start Time: 10:00 AM
End Time: 12:00 PM
Where: San Fernando Valley, TBD
Details: To follow.
9-19-10 – Sunday
Event: Citrus Pick
Start Time: 9:30 AM
End Time: 11:30 AM
Where: Granada Hills
Details: Come join FF as we harvest 5 Valencia orange trees in Granada Hills.
9-26-10 – Sunday
Event: Abbot Kinney Festival
Start Time: 10:00 AM
End Time: 6:00 PM
Where: Abbot Kinney Blvd. and Venice Blvd., Venice, CA
Details: Stop by and visit the FF team while they table at the Abbot Kinney Festival. For more details please visit www.abbotkinney.org
Please respect the time commitment you make:
Volunteer participation is crucial to the success of our organization. When volunteers do not show up, not only does it prevent somebody who wants to volunteer from doing so, it ultimately diminishes the amount of fruit that is harvested for the hungry. If for any reason you are not able to attend the pick that you signed up for, please contact the pick leader or Marie at marie@foodforward.org or Carl at 818-554-8696. The experience of your participation is very important to us. Please give us any ideas on how we may improve.
Great News!!! Food Forward is now officially a non-profit 501(c)(3). Your monetary or equipment donations are greatly appreciated!
We look forward to seeing you at a pick very soon!
Sincerely,
The Food Forward Team
818-554-8696 (Carl’s cell)
Twitter: @foodforwardla
Facebook group: Food Forward
P.O. Box 48818
Los Angeles, CA 90048
It’s official: as of this week Food Forward volunteers have surpassed harvesting/rescuing over 250,000 lbs or 1,000,000 servings of fresh free fruit for SoCals hungry. :)) our Fruit Loops rock!
Hope to see you in Montecito for our Big Pick in partnership with Backyard Bounty – gourgoues weather is on tap – amazing estate – light lunch provided – and 45 minutes from Wine COuntry – what more could you ask for?
To hold your spot email Marie@foodforward.org
Hello Food Forward Volunteers!
We are looking forward to September kicking off our juice-filled fall and are excited to announce this month’s Fresh Juice announcing September’s picks and events. We hope that you all can make it to one! Below are the calendared events:
Please RSVP to marie@foodforward.org with the following information to reserve your spot(s):
Please note: the exact address of the pick will be given out only to confirmed pickers 48-72 hours prior to the pick.
9-11-2010 – Saturday
Event: BIG Citrus Pick
Start Time: 9:00 AM
End Time: 3:00 PM
Where: Montecito
Details: Come join team Food Forward for a fun day of picking as we partner up with Backyard Bounty and the Santa Barbara Food Bank for the second year in a row at a lush private estate in Montecito just 75 minutes north of the San Fernando Valley! The FF team will bring a light lunch for all of those who join!
9-14-10 – Tuesday
Event: Citrus Sunset Pick
Start Time: 6:00 PM
End Time: 7:30 PM
Where: San Fernando Valley, TBD
Details: Join the FF crew for a fun, relaxing sunset pick!
9-18-10 – Saturday
Event: Citrus Pick
Start Time: 9:30 AM
End Time: 11:30 AM
Where: Chatsworth
Details: Come join the FF crew at a HUGE property in Chatsworth! We need lots of volunteers, so please RSVP with a friend!
9-18-10 – Saturday
Event: Citrus Pick
Start Time: 10:00 AM
End Time: 12:00 PM
Where: San Fernando Valley, TBD
Details: To follow.
9-19-10 – Sunday
Event: Citrus Pick
Start Time: 9:30 AM
End Time: 11:30 AM
Where: Granada Hills
Details: Come join FF as we harvest 5 Valencia orange trees in Granada Hills.
9-26-10 – Sunday
Event: Abbot Kinney Festival
Start Time: 10:00 AM
End Time: 6:00 PM
Where: Abbot Kinney Blvd. and Venice Blvd., Venice, CA
Details: Stop by and visit the FF team while they table at the Abbot Kinney Festival. For more details please visit www.abbotkinney.org
Please respect the time commitment you make:
Volunteer participation is crucial to the success of our organization. When volunteers do not show up, not only does it prevent somebody who wants to volunteer from doing so, it ultimately diminishes the amount of fruit that is harvested for the hungry. If for any reason you are not able to attend the pick that you signed up for, please contact the pick leader or Marie at marie@foodforward.org or Carl at 818-554-8696. The experience of your participation is very important to us. Please give us any ideas on how we may improve.
Great News!!! Food Forward is now officially a non-profit 501(c)(3). Your monetary or equipment donations are greatly appreciated!
We look forward to seeing you at a pick very soon!
Sincerely,
The Food Forward Team
818-554-8696 (Carl’s cell)
Twitter: @foodforwardla
Facebook group: Food Forward
P.O. Box 48818
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Last Saturday was an amazing day in the fruitworld! We started the day with a great group of volunteers harvesting 400lbs of valencia oranges in Northridge and then participated in LA’s first Food Rendezvous in Venice, CA! It was great to see some of our friends from the Garden School Foundation, Community Services Unl…imited, Slow Food LA, LA Farm Girl and sample all of the incredible food made by local artisans. Our candied lemons peels and 2nd vintage preserved lemons were a big hit and we look forward to participating in this event again. A big thanks again to Laurie & Dominique for inviting us!
Food Forward is excited to participate in LA’s first Food Rendezvous – this coming Saturday 8/28 from 4-10pm in Venice. It’s a gathering for Local Food Lovers and we will have our 2nd vintage of Preserved Meyer Lemons and our Candied Lemon Peels on sale! Come join the fun and meet other local food lovers!
At Sparc in the historic 1920s “old Venice jail house”… and its adjoining parking lots
685 Venice Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
http://www.thefoodrendezvous.com/
Purchase tickets http://www.eventbrite.com/event/780764287?ref=elink
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Tagged community, food artisans, food forward, Food Rendezvous, local food
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