Volunteer Opportunity: Food Pantry Volunteer

About Avalon Housing

At Avalon, housing is a human right. Our mission is to build healthy, safe and inclusive supportive housing communities as a long-term solution to homelessness. Avalon Housing is a non-profit supportive housing provider. Supportive housing is a combination of affordable housing paired with services, such as case management. We don't just help people find housing, we help people stay and thrive in their homes.

If you are passionate about creating more diverse, inclusive, and equitable communities where all people are welcome, Avalon may be a good fit for you.

About Our Food Pantries

Avalon operates food pantries at a number of our properties. Avalon's Food Pantry Volunteers will work with both our Community Building team and our tenant group on all aspects of running the food pantry.

Food Pantry Volunteer

Core Responsibilities Include:

• Set-Up:
  • Updating weekly temperature logs for fridges and freezers
  • Prepping bags (open and double bag) for pick-ups and deliveries
  • Sorting and tossing outdated or spoiled food from last week
  • Bringing out any food for the pantry from fridge/freezer
  • Helping unload Food Gatherers delivery from pallets
  • Setting up and displaying food in the designated shopping area
• During:
  • Monitoring pick up line (maintaining social distancing)
  • Running bags for pick up orders
  • Entering clients into database (Link2Feed)
  • Assisting support coordinators in loading deliveries into their vehicles
• Clean-Up:
  • Putting any extra food away on shelves, into the fridge, or freezer
  • Wiping down tables and kitchen counters
  • Breaking down boxes and taking them to the recycling area
  • Taking out trash and replacing liners
  • Sweeping and mopping floors

Desired Qualifications and Experience:

• Ability to effectively work with diverse populations in a non-judgmental way
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Must possess a highly positive and enthusiastic attitude and strong commitment toward helping those in need
• Available to commit to 4-8 hours a week, at least 12 hours a month
• Minimum 3-month commitment preferred

Physical Demands:

Volunteers may need to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds.

Position Information

Job Title: Food Pantry Volunteer

Reports To:

• Carrot Way- Scott Phillips, Community Builder
• State Crossing- Dei McCarty, Support Coordinator
• Hickory Way- Ian MacKenzie, Community Builder
• Pauline- Bria Camp, Community Builder
• Miller Manor- Katey Nolan, Community Builder
• The Grove- MaLinda Hall, Community Builder

Location: On-site at one or more of our Food Pantry locations:

• Carrot Way (32 Carrot Way, Ann Arbor, MI 48105)- Mondays 8:30 AM - 11 AM
• State Crossing (1525 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48103) - 2nd/4th Tuesdays 9 AM - 12 PM
• Hickory Way (1120 S Maple Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103) - 2nd/4th Wednesdays 10 AM - 1 PM
• Pauline (1500 Pauline Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103) - Thursdays 9 AM - 12 PM
• Miller Manor (727 Miller Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48103) - Fridays 9 AM - 12 PM
• The Grove (2380 Veridian Cir, Ann Arbor, MI 48104) - Fridays 9 AM - 12 PM

Compensation: This is an unpaid and voluntary role. However, any direct and approved expenses related to the role will be reimbursed.

Avalon Housing is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants including applicants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as historically marginalized groups. This includes but is not limited to underrepresented gender identities, sexual/romantic orientations and/or relationship structures, people living with disabilities or mental health conditions, and with lived experience with homelessness or recovery from a substance use disorder, and people with underrepresented religious and/or socio-economic backgrounds. Avalon also encourages those with criminal histories to apply. Avalon doesn't request information about criminal histories until an offer of employment is extended. Avalon will not exclude someone based on criminal history unless it is determined the criminal history is related to or directly conflicts with the responsibilities of the position. We are committed to transparency about our decision making process, and will seek clarifying information from an applicant to help us make a determination in this regard.