Grinnell Farm to Table - SESLWS

The Service Leadership Work Study Program (SLWS) is a community engagement program that provides students with an on-campus employment opportunity where they work with local community organizations. By working closely with local community organizations, students in the program get a sustained opportunity to engage with local issues while also interacting with a broad range of community members. The program also provides a peer learning community that supplements the work done by the students at their various work-sites and that provides opportunities for shared learning and collaboration. The positions in the program, which fall under the Student Union contract and pay the standard campus wage, can also fulfill federal work-study requirements. This position, which is for 8-10 hours per week, will support Grinnell Farm to Table. 

Position Summary:

Grinnell Farm To Table (GFTT) is non-profit organization that works with over 40 local and regional food producers and food hubs in Iowa and the Upper Midwest to source produce, meat, dairy, eggs, grains, flours, honey, and more for local sale and donation. They offer twice monthly online orders as well as in-person shopping on Saturday afternoons at their store location in downtown Grinnell. They also provide local food access to all Poweshiek County residents (regardless of socio-economic status) through a pay what you can option at their Saturday retail hours, free seasonal community farmstands, and donations to food pantries and the community fridge. Finally, they bring the community together around local food through regular public community events like PieFest, PickleFest, Back to School Grill Out, Fall Apple Cider Pressing, and more. 

The student in this position will have the opportunity to assist with and participate in all aspects of Grinnell Farm to Table’s operation including their online order distribution, Saturday retail hours (including pay what you can option), local food deliveries, monthly board meetings, and public events. These duties will bring them into contact with local farmers and food producers, GFTT’s customers, board of directors, and core of volunteers, as well as low-income households and professionals working in food access in the community. In addition to in-person duties, the student will work independently (with the guidance of executive director) to support the organization’s mission through the website, social media, email marketing, graphic design, and photography. In addition, student workers will have the independence to propose and carry out their own passion project within the internship as long as it aligns with the mission of GFTT and does not interfere with the other duties of the position. An example from a past internship was inviting households that participate in our food access program to dinner and hosting them at a local church to cook a local food meal together.  

The student worker will work with executive director and operations manager Jordan Scheibel ‘10. GFTT’s board of directors also includes Tommy Hexter ‘21 (former executive director) and Laurel Tuggle Lacina ‘13. 

Duties:

•  Assisting with every other week online order packing on Wednesday afternoons (2 - 6 pm - attendance during this whole block of time is not required but attendance for at least part of this time is strongly encouraged)
• Assisting with Saturday retail hours each week (12 - 2 pm - same as above)
• Assisting with food deliveries to MICA food pantry, community fridge, free community farmstands, and individual households (personal transportation not required, college transportation may be available for making deliveries or deliveries will be done with Jordan in his vehicle) 
• Updating the website (Squarespace) to reflect changing organizational scope of work and partnerships
• Producing additional weekly content (photos and text) such as producer and product spotlights for GFTT social media (Facebook primarily as well as Instagram) and email newsletter (Mailchimp) 
• Continuing and concluding previous intern’s work on a history of GFTT, to be posted on our website and promoted through social media and email marketing. 
• Assisting with promotion and staffing of public community events (generally Saturdays once a month), including producing fliers, postering, and/or setting up, attending, and cleaning up after the events. 
• Pursue a passion project that aligns with our mission and does not interfere with other duties (optional)
•  Attending monthly board of director meetings (Monday evenings, 5:30 - 7 pm) (optional)
• Attending quarterly Grinnell Food Coalition meetings (Wednesday mornings, 8 - 9:30 am) (optional)

Preferred skills & qualifications:

•     Schedule is amenable to specific time requirements of the position (see duties above)
•     Passionate about sustainability, food sovereignty, economic justice, and strengthening rural communities
•     Interest in community organizing and/or nonprofit service work around food
•     Interest in procuring, cooking, consuming, and sharing a love for local, seasonal foods (a 30% discount is available for all staff/interns/volunteers) 
•     Ability to be self-directed, keep projects on course without constant supervision, and intrinsic motivation to meet and exceed expectations 
•     Strong writing skills
•     Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact with with diverse range of people as well as a strong sense of boundaries and ethics when working with low income households 
•     Graphic design capabilities and social media/marketing fluency

Applicants for the position will need to provide a cover letter and resume. The cover letter should be addressed to Jordan Scheibel, Director of Grinnell Farm to Table. 

Applications for these positions close on Friday August 28th. Please note that applications will be considered on a rolling basis, as they are submitted, so you are encouraged to get your applications in before the closing date.

See job description above