Our volunteer team collects quality excess food each day that would otherwise go to waste from supermarkets across Gympie. This food is then redistributed to a number of local charities providing assistance to people in need. Our food rescue and relief services are completely free of charge to both donors and recipient charities. Our regular and free food deliveries to charities enable them to provide crucial food relief services while reducing their food spending and redirecting vital funding into education, rehabilitation and other services.
Each week, we prevent hundreds of kgs of good food from going to landfill – which in turn prevents tonnes of warming gases entering our atmosphere. By preventing quality food from being wasted, we are valuing this essential resource, nourishing our planet, fighting climate change, and nourishing our community with nutritious, quality, surplus food.
We're recruiting Volunteer Food Rescue Assistants to join our team. Volunteers work in pairs, driving personal vehicles to local stores and collecting surplus food, checking it for quality, and distributing it the same day to local charities who provide food relief to vulnerable people in our community. You will be introduced to our existing team who can show you the ropes. As volunteers use personal vehicles, this role suits confident drivers who have their own vehicle.
The Role Will Include:
Working with another volunteer to do the physical collection of food from donors
Loading food into personal vehicles following Food Safety and Manual Handling Guidelines
Weighing donated food and logging details of volume/type of food collected.
Assisting in unloading and distribution of food to recipient agencies
Liaising with food donors, recipient charities, and fellow OzHarvesters
Being an Ambassador for OzHarvest and representing us in a positive manner in all dealings with donors, recipient charity staff and clients, and the general public.
Other volunteering roles may arise from time to time, including community events/market stalls, fundraising and education roles with our FEAST program.
Suitable Applicants Will Have:
Strong communication skills
A reasonable level of physical fitness – lifting is involved
Ability to complete Manual Handling, Safe Food Handling Awareness – modules will be provided
A team-oriented approach
A positive, flexible, can-do attitude
Strong interpersonal skills
Understanding the sensitive issues faced by vulnerable people connected to the charities we service
An open driver's licence
Comprehensive car insurance if you will be volunteering with your vehicle.
What You Will Get Out of This Opportunity:
A sense of contribution – making a difference to people in need, and doing something tangible to protect and respect our planet
Be emotionally rewarded for your efforts in this community focused role
An understanding of the various organisations that work with those doing it tough
An understanding of the challenges that face people who rely on food assistance
Increased community and environmental awareness
Interaction with the OzHarvest team while assisting us achieve our positive social and environmental impact.
Category
Community Services
Commitment
Regular – more than 6 months
Type Of Work
Food Preparation & Service, Retail & Sales
Time Required
Our shifts are generally 2 hours long and occur every day except Sunday. We have a volunteer WhatsApp chat to discuss who is doing what shift and cover absences. We ask that you commit to a regular schedule of weekly or fortnightly help.
Training
Manual Handling module, Food Safety module. On-the-job guidance.
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