AmeriCorps VISTA - Anti-Hunger and Opportunity Corps

About Anti-Hunger and Opportunity Corps:

The New York City Coalition Against Hunger (NYCCAH), in conjunction with some of the nation's most effective and innovative nonprofit organizations, is launching a third year of the Anti-Hunger and Opportunity Corps (AHOC), a multi-state, 110-member AmeriCorps VISTA program sponsored by the US Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service and the Walmart Foundation. This program engages VISTA members and partnering organizations in NYCCAH's mission of "moving families beyond the soup kitchen" by breaking down barriers and providing improved access to heathful, nutritious foods via benefit utilization, including SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as Food Stamps), the Summer Food Service Program and School Breakfast. NYCCAH is a New York City-based nonprofit that assists partnering food pantries and soup kitchens in addressing both short-term food needs while working to alleviate the long-term poverty that causes hunger, in order to help low-income families move beyond the soup kitchen towards greater economic self-sufficiency. Various projects of the Coalition includes benefit screening and outreach; advocating and researching anti-hunger policies and enabling low-income people to educate and lobby on their own behalf; and creating a nationwide, cohesive anti-hunger volunteerism network enabling nonprofits, schools, private companies and everyday citizens to seek out higher impact volunteer projects.

Member Duties :

Members are placed in anti-hunger community-based nonprofit organizations where they will assist in building capacity, implement new projects, provide technical support, manage volunteers, build community support and write grants. Each of our partners will work towards one or more of the following: Convene community leaders in identifying SNAP (formerly Food Stamps), SFSP (free summer meals) and other programs' participation barriers and develop a comprehensive plan to improve access. Recruit, manage, and train unpaid community volunteers to assist in outreach and other areas of need in improving access to anti-hunger programs. Identify and apply for non-federal grants that can be combined to improve benefits access assistance and outreach activities. Increase access to nutritious food options by expanding outreach and programming to increase utilization of benefits at farmers' markets and supporting local, community gardening and agriculture and nutrition education efforts.

Program Benefits :

Childcare assistance if eligible , Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend , Health Coverage , Living Allowance , Relocation Allowance , Training .

Program Locations:

Arkansas, Arizona , California , Colorado , Connecticut , Florida , Kentucky , Louisiana , Massachusetts , Maryland , Maine , Michigan , North Carolina , New Mexico , New York , Oregon , Pennsylvania , Texas, Utah , Virginia , Vermont.