PURPOSE OF THE VOLUNTEER POSITION
We currently prepare a hot soup lunch for approximately 120 people each time, two times per week. Any leftovers from the day are packed and distributed to the Lac du Bonnet Food Bank, local students/families in need and the Lac du Bonnet Youth Centre. The Lunch is on Us! program welcomes everyone and is committed to addressing all types of food insecurity in Lac du Bonnet. The program has grown from serving less than 20 people per day just over a year ago to now providing lunch for 120 each day. The entire program is 100% volunteer and donation run. To enable us to continue serving this increasing need in our community we require additional volunteers to come aboard. “Food is love made visible.” We love you, Lac du Bonnet! (Without additional volunteers the program may have to reduce its serving capacity to the community.)
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION
A Lunch Is On Us Soup Chef will be responsible to lead the day’s preparations of a homemade soup lunch for around 120 people. You will have support from other volunteers in the kitchen. Duties include: – cleaning and chopping vegetables, cooking meats, preparing stock for the current day’s recipe and future recipes – packaging soup and buns for delivery and pick up – dishwashing, kitchen clean up – fostering a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for all community members
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND AGE REQUIREMENTS
We’re looking for someone who loves people and loves cooking. The right candidate will be friendly, can follow a recipe or adapt a recipe as required, and can organize and lead 1-2 other volunteers. If you’ve enjoyed cooking for your family, you probably have the right skills! Experience and confidence in the kitchen and with food preparation in the kitchen are required, but a large quantity of cooking experience is not a prerequisite. Need experience? Why not start as a helper and work up to leading a team. As Soup Chef you are the shift leader. After training, when you start leading shifts, you will need to have a Safe Food Handling certificate from FoodSafe Manitoba or equivalent program. The course isn’t difficult, takes about 6hrs and leverages common sense food handling practices. It is good for 5 yrs. I’ve heard the in-person courses can cost over $100. I just checked the online course I took and it’s under $40. Reimbursement for the cost of this program may be available. These courses are currently available online and in-person. The online course, which can be done in several sittings, is typically less than half the cost of an in-person course, which requires a full day and travel to attend. You do not need the FoodSafe certificate to start.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Longer periods of standing may be required, so comfortable shoes are a good idea. Some lifting of heavy pots of soup MAY be required. All cooking and food supplies are provided. Aprons and hairnets are provided. A hair tie and/or hair net are required. Volunteers will be expected to self-screen for illness prior to the shift. As volunteers work in close proximity to one another, we respectfully request that volunteers wear a mask.
TRAINING AND TOOLS PROVIDED
Training, equipment, menus, recipes and ingredients are all provided. You will also have your own Sous Chef(s) for support. When Soup Chefs start to lead their shifts, they will need to have Safe Food Handling certificate from FoodSafe Manitoba or equivalent program. Reimbursement for the cost of the program may be available.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Volunteer Position: Soup Chef for Lunch is on Us!
# of Volunteers Needed: 4
Location of Work: Lunch is on Us! currently operates in the LdB Arena kitchen.
Date: We are looking for someone who is comfortable heading up the kitchen and preparing soup for approximately 120 people. We will provide training and support. 1-2 shifts per month on a regular basis Time: 8:00am – 1:00pm Tuesdays or Thursdays If you would like to be involved but this is a little more commitment than you are comfortable with we are willing to try to accommodate you. Please give us a call!
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! Is a program that offers a bowl of healthy, homemade soup and a bun at no cost to community members of Lac du Bonnet – Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00am – 12.30pm 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 nutritious meals per week. Serving up to 120 people a day, this program has reached seniors, people who are unable to leave their homes, youth at an alternative education program, elementary and high school students and their families, and 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.
