Children’s Program Assistant (Temporary - Seasonal - June through August/Mid-September)

Imagine the opportunity to bring your talent to a high-performing organization making a meaningful difference in the lives of men, women and children all across Chicago. We are one of the nation’s premier, nonprofit organizations dedicated to feeding hungry people while striving to end hunger in our community. We are dynamic, mission-focused, innovative, values-driven, diverse, focused, impactful and energetic. We believe in inspiring change and know change only happens when everyone has a voice and a place at the table. It starts by unleashing the joy and potential in each other and the people we serve.

Our Children’s Program Assistant (temporary) will provide administrative, technical and outreach support for the summer meals program to help ensure children throughout Cook County have access to nutritious meals while school is not in session.

Currently in Cook County, one in five children are food insecure, not knowing when or from where their next meal will come from. Hunger amongst children has lasting effects- increased hospitalizations, developmental problems, headaches, stomachaches, and colds. The number of children in Illinois who qualify for free and reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program has been on the rise. In response to the need, the Food Depository collaborates with area schools, after-school and summer programs to provide nutritious food year-round to approximately 250,000 children in Cook County through the Summer Food Service Food Program (SFSP) and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

Summer is a difficult time for our families and children. During this time, feeding children in our community becomes especially important, because those receiving free and reduced-price school meals lose an important source of food.

• Provides administrative and general assistance to Children’s Program Coordinator.
• Conducts compliance visits to ensure all program sites are in good standing with the Food Depository, ISBE and USDA’s food service standards.
• Provides technical assistance and training for program sites to support overall program growth and development.
• Works to promote summer meals through community outreach efforts.
• Supports the evaluation of program sites, including applicants and current members, and develops appropriate responses to their needs.

• Local travel and personal transportation required with valid license and insurance.
• Bilingual Spanish preferred.
• Must be comfortable working with diverse populations in various Cook County neighborhoods.
• Experience in providing outreach and direct services preferred.
• Experience with federal child nutrition programs preferred.
• Strong organizational skills with high level of proficiency in MS Office applications.
• A high level of verbal, written communication and presentation skills.
• The ability to work well with internal departments, varying types of personnel, agency members, partners, clients and the general public.
• Ability to work through mid-September.