Volunteer and Intern Opportunities & Application Details
The Coalition for Healthy School Food (CHSF) introduces plant-based foods and nutrition education in schools to educate the whole school community. We do this by developing and introducing healthy plant-based foods into schools and developing and implementing plant-based nutrition education curriculum and resources, as well as presenting at conferences to share what we are doing with as many people as possible.
Our volunteers may carry out a variety of assignments in schools in NYC and Ithaca, and/or through telecommuting assignments on a variety of projects. Volunteers may be involved in all aspects of the operation of a non-profit including program support, resource development, recipe development and testing, event planning, fund raising, and publicity/marketing.
1. Cool School Food Support Services
NYC - Cool School Food is a partnership of the Coalition for Healthy School Food and the NYC Office of SchoolFood, along with other business and organizational partners. We promote healthy and delicious international bean-based and tofu recipes. The recipes are offered in select NYC schools at lunchtime.
Volunteers are needed to make once or twice weekly visits to a participating school generally between 10:00am and 1:30pm (times vary depending on the individual school) to interact with students, teachers, and school administrators regarding our program, educate students and staff about the healthy recipes, and observe and report on our program. Interaction includes making sure: the special meals are announced the day they are served, children are reminded of the special as they enter the cafeteria, promotional materials are in place, and that administrators have what they need to implement our Wellness Wakeup Program. Education may include showing students the ingredients that are in the recipe they are trying and giving presentations and implementing curriculums in classrooms in schools where possible. Observation in the lunch room will include filling out a check list each week and recording that information in Google Spreadsheets based on observations of the program.
Ithaca – Cool School Food Ithaca is a Farm to School Program utilizing locally grown, organic beans and grains. Volunteers may be involved with recipe development, taste testing in the schools, and creative promotional activities.
2. Nutrition Education Materials and Curriculum Development
Promotion and marketing of messages that engage students, parents, teachers, and school administrators is an important goal of CHSF. Volunteers may have an opportunity to write curriculum, create posters, develop presentations, or develop materials to benefit our Cool School Food program. Volunteers may also be involved in reviewing our Wellness Wakeup Call Messages before they are made available to the public, and giving their feedback, and development of complimentary Wellness Wakeup Call program materials.
3. Fundraising and event planning
Volunteers interested in learning all aspects of running a non-profit may also wish to gain experience in fundraising and event planning. Volunteers will have an opportunity to take responsibility for an aspect of our fall benefit, reach out to corporate sponsors, or write grant applications.
Eligibility Criteria:
· Applicants that will be working in New York City schools must be fingerprinted at their own expense (approximately $115).
· Internship applicants must submit application form (below) and an essay (not more than 800 words) that answers the following questions:
o Why are you interested in school nutrition?
o What are the benefits of plant-based nutrition, especially plant-proteins?
o How will your work contribute to NYCHSF if selected?
o How will this internship help you in the future?
To apply:
Send application and essay to . In the subject line, put the following: Volunteer (or Internship) Application, <your name>, <summer/fall/spring & year> (for example: “Internship Application, Jane Smith, Fall 2015” or “Volunteer Application, Jane Smith, Summer 2017”. If you do not hear back from us within a week, please contact us to be sure we received your application.
For more information contact Kelley at for NYC applications and for non-NYC applications.
Volunteer/Intern Application
Name______DOB______
Street______
City______State______Zip______
Contact: (please circle choices in parenthesis)
Cell (Call this number 1st, 2nd, 3rd)
Home (Call this number 1st, 2nd, 3rd)
Office ______(Call this number 1st, 2nd, 3rd)
Email:______
Volunteer Location: NYC Ithaca Long Island Albany
Buffalo Rochester Other (including other state):______ Telecommute
Interest Area: School Curriculum/Snacks Tabling Gala/Benefits
Fundraising Event Planning Nutrition Education/Resource Development
Marketing Public Relations Cooking/Chef Teaching Speakers Bureau
What skills will you bring to the Coalition and how will you contribute/strengths?
Social/Comfortable with people Technical Have car
Food Handling Available on short notice
Comments/details for interest area and skills, include any special skills: ______
Availability: Weekdays Evening Weekends
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Please indicate how many hours you can commit to:
I can commit to hours weekly I can commit to hours monthly
I can commit to hours for occasional events
Internship applicants, desired semester/year: Fall Spring Summer
Why are you interested in school nutrition?
______
What is your knowledge of plant based nutrition, and why is it so important? ______
Reference 1: (former employer or for recent graduates or students, a professor)
Name:
Phone: Email:
Reference 2: (former employer or for recent graduates or students, a professor)
Name:
Phone: Email:
Reference 3: (anyone you have known for more than 3 years that is not related to you) Name:
Phone: Email: