Kitsap Harvest: Grow A Row Coordinator VISTA

Kitsap Harvest: Grow A Row Coordinator VISTA Kitsap Harvest, established in 2017 and recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2022, is located in Western Washington's Kitsap Peninsula. Kitsap faces challenges in dedicated farming land and providing fresh food access to vulnerable populations. Kitsap Harvest focuses on improving fresh food access in our community by harvesting from the urban landscape and encouraging community involvement in our mission of growing, harvesting, and distributing to low-access, low-income communities. To enhance food security, resilience, waste reduction, and health outcomes, Kitsap Harvest emphasizes community-grown food. During the summer months, urban fruit harvesting is a key focus, but there is a need to diversify food varieties and sources. Grow-A-Row (GAR) aims to increase garden-grown produce donations by engaging with home gardeners, community gardens, and local farmers, to solicit produce donations, provide education about our program, sharing techniques for extending the growing season through succession plantings, and offering seeds and vegetable starts. Fruit tree gleaning, our original program, is a key part of Kitsap Harvest's mission and adds a significant amount of fresh produce, while also reducing waste in landfills. Kitsap Harvest partners with Harvest Against Hunger, which utilizes a team of AmeriCorps members in the Harvest VISTA program who build sustainable, community food security programs. These range from gleaning projects to regional food security assessments, to expanding community-run gardens and food bank farms. AmeriCorps members serve with their projects for a year: recruiting and coordinating volunteers, creating systems to collect data and evaluate programs, and growing organizations through storytelling, development and fundraising. They benefit from professional development and team building in a nationwide cohort. Harvest Against Hunger and the Harvest VISTA Program aims to engage the larger community in addressing food insecurity. Further help on this page can be found by clicking here. Member Duties : In this position, the AmeriCorps member will develop and implement a strategic plan for GAR programming, targeting existing food-growing locations. Engage Farmers Markets, expanding collaborations, and establish a partnership with Kitsap Fresh to involve more farmers. They will increase community donation stations, involve community gardens in GAR activities, and support existing partners in extending their growing season. The member will facilitate the GAR Committee, emphasizing membership growth and defining roles to empower the committee's ownership and active participation in program growth and sustainability. They will create an application process for GAR donation stations, establish a strong presence at community events, and involve committee members in outreach tasks to enhance program visibility. Program Benefits : Childcare assistance if eligible , Living Allowance , Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend , Education award upon successful completion of service , Health Coverage* , Relocation Allowance . Terms : Car recommended . Service Areas : Health , Hunger , Disaster Relief . Skills : Team Work , General Skills , Recruitment , Public Speaking , Community Organization , Networking , Non-Profit Management .

Created: 2025-03-03