Food for Thought Specialist

Position Summary

The Food for Thought Specialist plays a vital role in promoting student well-being and food security across campus. This position supports students by coordinating food access initiatives, connecting them with resources, and fostering partnerships to address basic needs. The Specialist leads outreach, plans events, and supports program operations to ensure that students have consistent access to nutritious food and essential supplies.

MAJOR DUTIES

Student Support & Resource Navigation:

• Meet individually with students to assess needs and connect them to SNAP, emergency food assistance, hot meal vouchers, and local community resources.
• Distribute emergency food boxes, meal vouchers, toiletries, and snack packs as needed, while maintaining accurate documentation in Excel and CRM systems.
• Assist with data tracking and reporting to support grant requirements and program improvement.

Campus Food Access Initiatives:

• Coordinate daily and weekly distribution of campus-wide snack baskets to 20+ locations, including outlying centers.
• Organize and staff recurring events such as:
  • Grab & Go Meals
  • Free Produce Distributions
  • Holiday Food Boxes
  • Food Bag and Toiletry Events
• Collaborate on seasonal and monthly food events like SJC Cooks' Food of the Month, highlighting in-season produce with recipe demos and samples.

Program Outreach & Education:

• Partner with community resources for monthly pop-up events to promote awareness and application support.
• Record and share cooking demo videos to promote healthy eating using pantry staples.
• Create flyers, recipe cards, and promotional materials; support branding efforts for programs and events.

Operational & Collaborative Support:

• Maintain and update the program website and calendar of events.
• Coordinate with departments, community partners, and volunteers to support food distribution and outreach efforts.
• Participate in cross-campus collaborations, statewide consortiums, and meetings to address student basic needs.
• Assist in developing policies, procedures, and monthly/quarterly reports for program effectiveness and compliance.