PURPOSE OF THE VOLUNTEER POSITION
Harvest Manitoba provides free food that can be used in the (Lunch is on Us!) lunch program. Bringing food from Harvest MB enables us to keep costs low to offer our free lunch service.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION
Monthly Harvest MB food donation pickups in Winnipeg. The volunteer would transport crates of perishable fresh and frozen foods as well as non-perishable food from Winnipeg to the Lac du Bonnet and Area Food Bank in Lac du Bonnet. The volunteer would be responsible to take crates off a roller table and load them into their vehicle independently. Usually takes about 15 minutes. The donation consists of approx. 20-25 “milk crates” which range in weight from 10 lbs to approx. 30lbs and there are often a couple of large (50lb) bags or boxes of potatoes and onions. You are able to back right up to the roller table to slide crates right onto the back of your vehicle. You will have help unloading at the Lac du Bonnet and District Food Bank. Harvest Manitoba is located at 1085 Winnipeg Ave in Winnipeg. Lac du Bonnet and Area Food Bank is located at 5 McArthur Ave in Lac du Bonnet. 107 km from Harvest MB to LDB.
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND AGE REQUIREMENTS
Must have a valid driver’s license and a larger vehicle – SUV, van or truck for transporting crates, boxes and bags of food. It is helpful to bring another person along to assist with loading. The amounts of the donations vary each month and due to the perishable nature of the donated food and the weather conditions, the volunteer might not be able to complete other business in Wpg. Ideally, we’d like to have this service provided as a donation. However, we recognize not everyone can cover the cost of driving, so some mileage expenses may be reimbursed, where needed.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
The volunteer will be responsible for loading crates onto/into their vehicle independently in Winnipeg. They will have help unloading at the Lac du Bonnet and District Food Bank.
TRAINING AND TOOLS PROVIDED
If you like, we can send an experienced volunteer with you for your first pick-up.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Volunteer Position: Driver – to pick up donations from Harvest Manitoba in Winnipeg
# of Volunteers Needed: 3
Location of Work: The majority of time for this volunteer position will be spent in your vehicle, travelling between Harvest Manitoba at 1085 Winnipeg Ave in Winnipeg and Lac du Bonnet and District Food Bank at 5 McArthur Ave in Lac du Bonnet.
Date: Monthly transportation of donations from Winnipeg. We require pick up once per month, typically on a Friday at mid-morning. The schedule is known well in advance. The more drivers we have, the less often they are needed.
HOW TO SIGN UP
Volunteer Coordinator: Tracy Neurenberg
Phone:204-345-9649 please leave a message OR 204-268-5118 text only, please.
EMAIL LUNCH IS ON US!
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
Lunch Is on Us! offers a bowl of healthy, homemade soup and a bun at no cost to community members of Lac du Bonnet – Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm at Mrs. Lucci’s Family Resource Centre. Lunch is on Us! is an initiative of the HERO’S Alliance and the Lac du Bonnet and Area Food Security Network. Lunch Is on Us! is completely volunteer-driven, from organizing, planning, preparation and cooking, to delivery. The program was started in Feb 2021 to address the increased food insecurity needs in our area, made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. Especially with high inflation and high prices for food and gas, food insecurity continues to be a concern for members of our community. Food insecurity can have many causes, for example, a health or medical condition, mental health challenges, lack of transportation, or other difficulty completing the tasks of shopping and preparing a healthy meal. Community members without family/friend support nearby may have felt socially isolated because of restrictions and public health recommendations. Some people who don’t identify as food insecure might also benefit from the addition of a couple of nutritious meals per week. Serving up to 120 people a day, this program has reached seniors, people who are not able to leave their homes, youth at an alternative education program, elementary and high school students and their families, and the community generally interested in sharing a hot lunch. At this time, lunches are picked up or delivered to people. Once pandemic restrictions are loosened, it is hoped that people will have an opportunity to sit together to eat and share community.