Apply HAH 2012
Harvest Against Hunger is accepting applications for 10 AmeriCorps*VISTA positions to fight food insecurity around Washington State. HAH is a partnership between Rotary First Harvest and the Corporation for National and Community Service to place Harvest VISTA members at local hunger relief agencies. A Harvest VISTA works within a community to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables by developing sustainable produce recovery projects. Such projects include establishing new or building upon preexisting gleaning, plant a row, market recovery and community garden models. HAH is committed to connecting and collaborating with a variety of individuals and organizations to develop and share innovate programs that increase access to fresh and nutritious produce for people who are need.
Application Instructions
- Complete an official AmeriCorps Application by searching the listings page for “Harvest Against Hunger” in WA State (applicants may submit to more than one HAH host site location).
- Email resume and cover letter as attachments (do not copy and paste into the body of the email) to benjamin@firstharvest.org
- View Full Job Descriptions and VISTA Assignment Descriptions (VAD) under each Host Site for more detail about position specifics.
- Application deadline is September 4, 2011, applicants will be reviewed as received and strong candidates may be contacted before deadline for interviews.
Expectations and Compensation
- Harvest VISTAs serve a full-time commitment for one year, receiving a living allowance, health care coverage and choice of an AmeriCoprs Education Award or cash stipend after successfully completing their term of service.
- Harvest VISTAs members may be eligible to receive reimbursement of relocation expense for some travel and shipping costs. Harvest VISTA positions are full-time (40 hours a week) and VISTAs cannot be current students or hold other employment.
- Living Allowance: King and Snohomish counties the yearly stipend is $11,724, every other WA county the yearly stipend is $10,296.
- Education Award: After completion of year of service, a Harvest VISTA will receive $5550 or a $1500 cash stipend. The Ed Award may be used towards tuition or pay down existing college loans.
Other Information
- Every VISTA placement does require use of a personal vehicle, HAH will reimburse official work related travel at $.505 a mile.
- Although not required, a bachelor’s degree from a four year college or university is strongly encouraged for anyone applying for Harvest VISTA position.
- Please see this FAQ page about serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA member:
Training
- The Corporation for National and Community Service and Harvest Against Hunger will provide many opportunities for training and career building activities.
- Before Harvest VISTAs report to their host site they will first complete an AmeriCorps Pre Service Orientation (PSO) that provides context for a VISTA year to fight poverty, mobilize communities and implement projects.
- HAH will provide ongoing training opportunities at the Rotary First Harvest office in Seattle and connect on a regular basis to share ideas, best practices and problem solve.
HOST SITES (scroll down to view all site locations)
Carnation
Background: Work at Hopelink’s Carnation location to jumpstart a local gleaning and produce recovery model in the Snoqualmie Valley. Help bring stakeholder groups together in this agricultural community by building momentum to further connect growers and volunteer groups to glean fresh produce for hunger relief organizations.
Highlights: Great small town vibe on the edge WA’s biggest urban area; incredible diverse farms; short distance from the Snoqualmie Pass where hiking exists in the summer and snow sports in the winter months.
VISTA Assignment Description (VAD)
Mt Vernon
Background: Work with Skagit County Community Action Agency and their Harvest for Hope produce recovery program to collect unharvested fruits and vegetables for hunger relief organizatoins. This project is entering its second full year as a sponsored AmeriCorps*VISTA program and is galvanizing community support among local food banks, volunteer groups and a diverse mix of farmers and growers. Help build program capacity and strengthen by further recruiting and retaining project partners to help fight insecurity in the Skagit Valley.
Highlights: Mt Vernon and the Skagit Valley is host to fantastic number of potatoes, berries and bulb flower farms; gateway to the San Juan Islands with endless day and weekend trips; home to one of the largest tulip festivals in North America.
VISTA Assignment Description (VAD)
Olympia
Background: Work with the Thurston County Food Bank (TCFB) and their produce recovery program to further integrate gleaning into the local community. This is the third and final year Harvest Against Hunger will place an AmeriCorps*VISTA member at the TCFB and thus a critical time. The main goal for the year is to transition the project model away from coordination by a Harvest VISTA and to partner organizations and TCFB staff to ensure future sustainability with local food banks, growers and volunteers to fight food insecurity.
Highlights: Great support for local small to mid-size organic farms, home to The Evergreen State College; nearby to the awe-inspiring Olympic Peninsula; state capital of WA State.
VISTA Assignment Description (VAD)
Okanogan
Background: Work with Okanogan County Community Action Council (OCCAC) and their Food For All project to collect and distribute a variety of fruits and vegetables to food banks within the county. This project is entering its third and final year as a sponsored AmeriCorps*VISTA program and transitioning towards a model where project participants, like volunteer groups and growers, help champion and support the future success of the program model.
Highlights: Located in the Okanogan Valley with a diverse mix of large and small fruit and vegetable growers – from apple, pear and cherry orchards to farms that specialize in leafy green row crops; outdoor activities abound with nearby streams, lakes, mountains and valleys to explore, including the Methow Valley with some of the best cross country ski trails in the entire country.
VISTA Assignment Description (VAD)
Spokane
Background: Work with Second Harvest and their impactful produce recovery program to help grow, collect and distribute fruits and vegetables for hunger relief organizations in and around Spokane. This project is entering its second full year as a sponsored AmeriCorps*VISTA program and has gained tremendous momentum in the local community, with projects like gardens, plant a row for the hungry initiatives, community fruit tree harvest, gleaning events and food security classes.
Highlights: Near great biking and hiking trails that wind its way through the city; close to many lakes and rivers perfect for water sports and fishing; Lake Couer d’Alane and ski areas are also easy day trips.
VISTA Assignment Description (VAD)
Tacoma
Background: Work with Emergency Food Network and their Pierce County Gleaning Program to collect unharvested fruits and vegetables for distribution to local hunger relief organizations. This project is entering its second full year as a sponsored AmeriCorps*VISTA program and is gaining tremendous community support. Help further the program’s three pronged approach to increase fresh produce donations through gleaning, plant a row for the hungry and community fruit tree harvest project.
Highlights: Mt Rainier rises above the community, making for incredible number of hiking, climbing and camping excursions; Tacoma is also home to a growing number of farmers markets supported by nearby organic farms, like those in the Puyallup Valley.
VISTA Assignment Description (VAD)
Vancouver
Background: Work with Clark County Food Bank to develop a Harvest Against Hunger program to further produce recovery projects that support food pantries in Clark County. This position is in partnership with the Clark County Food Bank network, Urban Abundance, local volunteer groups and growers to access and glean fresh produce for a number of hunger relief agencies in Clark County. This position will focus on further developing intentional crops grown by and for the food pantry on leased and private property. A portion of time will also assist in introducing nutrition education across the county from the new Clark County Food Bank facility, using a teaching kitchen.
Highlights: With the mighty Columbia River separating Vancouver from Portland, OR there are numerous opportunities for recreation, exploring nearby Portland; day trips to the Hood River which is a mecca for windsurfing and kiteboarding and trekking around Mt Saint Helens National Park.
VISTA Assignment Description (VAD)
Walla Walla
Background: Work with Blue Mountain Action Council as a new gleaning program is established to collect unharvested fruits and vegetables in and around Walla Walla for distribution to food banks. Strong interest exists from stakeholder groups, like hunger relief organizations and the WSU Extension Office to help expand and encourage volunteer groups and small to mid-size growers to establish a local produce recovery project to fight food insecurity.
Highlights: Although wheat and sweet onions are the traditional mainstays a number of other diverse fruits and vegetables thrive here, including grapes that have given way to a burgeoning number of wineries that populate the scenic rolling hills.
VISTA Assignment Description (VAD)
Wenatchee
Background: Work with Community Farm Connection to launch a gleaning project in Wenatchee and around the greater North Central WA region. Tremendous opportunity currently exists for local commercial growers to partner with hunger relief organizations and volunteer groups to collect and distribute unharvested produce to nearby food banks. This is a tremendous opportunity to capitalize on interest from a variety of stakeholder groups that want to participate to combat food insecurity with the collection and distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Highlights: Situated along the Columbia River literally in the apple capital of the US many adventures abound from white water rafting to numerous hikes in the Eastside of the Cascade Mountains; day trips to picturesque towns like Leavenworth are also easily accessible.
VISTA Assignment Description (VAD)
Yakima
Background: Work with Northwest Harvest Yakima and their Yakima Valley Produce Harvest to help achieve program sustainability in their third and final year of an AmeriCorps*VISTA placement. A program model to glean excess fruits and vegetables was developed the two previous years, which the community is now supporting and sustaining. In this last year of project development, help make certain the Yakima Valley Produce Harvest will exist for years to come, by solidifying involvement from key stakeholder groups like food banks, growers and volunteer groups.
Highlights: At the center for agriculture from apples and cherries and varying scales of vegetable farms there is a bounty of produce; the Eastside of Mt Rainier is easily accessible for day and weekend trips.
