Opportunities From: HandsOn Twin Cities

PRISM is excited to offer a new volunteer opportunity! The Food Shelf Check-in volunteer is the first point of contact for those visiting the food shelf. This volunteer schedules walk-in appointments for our visitors, helps identify participants' specific needs, and works in tandem with our staff to facilitate traffic flow in our facility. Primary responsibilities include the following:

- Greet participants, volunteers, and visitors in a warm, friendly and welcoming manner
- Directly serve participants with check-in at the Marketplace Food Shelf
- Work in tandem with Case Manager to discern participant needs, incl. intake for first-time visitors, clothing vouchers, resources or other services.
- Stay informed of changes to PRISM’s processes, services, and inventory in the Marketplace Food Shelf
- Manage/create appointment calendar using Google Calendar
- Maintain ongoing communications with staff via Microsoft Teams to address specific participant questions/concerns.
- Other duties as assigned

We would greatly benefit from volunteers who possess the following skillset:

- Effective interpersonal skills under all types of conditions, exhibiting a supportive, direct, and positive approach with participants, staff and other volunteers
- Ability to work with diverse populations with the demonstrated ability to communicate and relate effectively to a wide variety of individuals
- Ability to learn and acquire overall knowledge of PRISM, its services and staff, and other social service agencies
- Volunteers with experience in retail and/or direct customer service do particularly well here

Bilingual abilities are a huge plus in this role but not a requirement. We would greatly benefit from Russian, Spanish speaking volunteers in this role.

If interested, please reach out to Colette Illarde, Volunteer Manager, at 763-432-4230. We are grateful for your time and consideration! An orientation and training will be provided to all routine, ongoing volunteers.

Volunteer Job Description - Driver

PRISM seeks to be a leader in creating meaningful and impactful volunteer experiences for community members. Our ability to best serve the community is hinged on our capacity to physically do the work, as well as having the trust and involvement of community stakeholders.

Volunteers are key components in PRISM’s mission of providing social services and connections that empower people in our community to build healthy, stable lives, and our vision to lead in providing innovative and dignified services that foster resilient individuals and a healthier, more sustainable community.

Volunteer Duties and Requirements

We have a big need for ongoing Food Rescue Drivers! Using PRISM’s vehicle, the Driver drives to specific retail stores in the west metropolitan area to pick up donated food. This role is critical in assuring our participants receive high-quality food when visiting our Marketplace Food Shelf, and that food being discarded by local supermarket chains is distributed to our households. Volunteer drivers supporting the Marketplace Food Shelf will perform a variety of duties including:

Collecting donations from west metropolitan area retail stores, ex: Target, Cub Foods and HyVee Load the vehicle at the rescue food site location, ensuring the PRISM vehicle remains organized an accessible for distribution Unload the vehicle at PRISM facility. Separate and deliver donated food to each specific storage area of PRISM: cooler, freezer, nonperishable foods Weighing and documenting total amount of lbs. collected after pick-up route Break down packaging for trash and recycling Maintain a clean, safe, and orderly vehicle and work environment Notify Volunteer Manager of any challenges with pick-up and/or route. Comfort working alongside another volunteer, providing shadow opportunities to new volunteers as needed

 

Knowledge, Skills, Education, Experience:

Effective interpersonal skills under all types of conditions, exhibiting a supportive, direct, and positive approach with participants, staff and other volunteers Experience working with diverse populations with the demonstrated ability to communicate and relate effectively to a wide variety of individuals Passion for food insecurity Ability to work flexible hours, generally between mornings and afternoons, as needed Must have a valid driver’s license and insurance Be able to lift 30+ pounds, stand for duration of shift, bend and twist Be able to use step stools, ladders, and use dolly Be able to use scissors and box-cutters Must wear close-toed footwear Must not have a misdemeanor or felony record

If you are interested in this opportunity, please reach out to Colette Illarde, Volunteer Manager, at 763-432-4230 or colette@prismmpls.org

 

Pre-COVID, the Marketplace Food Shelf utilized a “choice” model, meaning the participants were free to shop just as they do in a traditional grocery store by choosing exactly the food they need from the shelves within Food Shelf guidelines. Our current service delivery system is to ensure the safety and comfort of staff, volunteers, and participants, while serving participants at a larger volume and more frequently. Volunteers working in the Marketplace Food Shelf will perform a variety of duties including:

- Accept donations from the public, offer and provide the donor with a receipt if requested.

- Serve our participants with check-in/out (currently put on hold because of our current model due to COVID-19)

- Review and sort food donations for packaging issues and expiration dates compared to PRISM guidelines

- Review and sort through perishable items to ensure they are of good quality for our participants

- Assemble and prepare nonperishable boxes, ranging from 35-40 lbs.

- Stock assembly-line shelves with purchased and donated products

- Break down unneeded packaging and expired food for trash, recycling, and compost. Disposing of items as needed.

- Maintain a clean, safe, and orderly work environment.

- Notify Marketplace Food Shelf staff, or a tenured volunteer, of any questions or any identified needs in the food shelf.

- Other duties as assigned

 

 

Volunteer Job Description - Shop for Change Thrift Store

Volunteers are key components in PRISM’s mission of providing social services and connections that empower people in our community to build healthy, stable lives, and our vision to lead in providing innovative and dignified services that foster resilient individuals and a healthier, more sustainable community. Funds from our Shop for Change Thrift Store help fund our basic needs programs, including our Marketplace Food Shelf and Housing Assistance programs. If you're a personal thrifter, we would love to have you as an addition to our team!

Location: 1220 Zane Ave N, Golden Valley, Minnesota 55422

Volunteer Job Responsibilities:

All shoppers should be treated with respect, courtesy, and friendliness while shopping. Volunteers are expected to provide great customer service.

Volunteer Duties

The Shop for Change Thrift Store offers quality, affordable clothing and household items to the general public. Volunteers working in the Shop for Change Thrift Store will perform a variety of duties including:

Accept donations from the public, offer and provide the donor with a receipt if requested. Review and sort clothing and household donations for stains, tears or damage, and salability Prepare items for sale in thrift store such as putting clothing on hangers or cleaning hard goods Stock thrift store shelves with priced items as space on racking and shelves allow Directly serve our participants and shoppers at the register Break down packaging and trash Package items determined not to be sold in Shop for Change Thrift Store for donation to another nonprofit, typically the Salvation Army Maintain a clean, safe, and orderly work and store environment Other duties as assigned

Experienced Volunteer Duties

With additional experience and training, volunteers may be considered Experienced Volunteers. Experienced volunteers will fulfill all of the above opportunities and the following:

Research items that might be valuable. These might be sold on online websites such as eBay. Price items for sale using PRISM guidelines Orient and train new volunteers on Shop for Change Thrift Store operations Be a key resource for volunteers

Knowledge, Skills, Education, Experience:

Effective interpersonal skills under all types of conditions, exhibiting a supportive, direct, and positive approach with participants, staff and other volunteers Experience working with diverse populations Volunteers with experience in retail and/or direct customer service do particularly well here Ability to use a cash register Be able to use step stools and/or ladders Be able to use scissors and box-cutters Must wear close-toed footwear Must not have a felony record nor a misdemeanor record related to theft.

Reporting Relationship:

The Shop for Change Thrift Shop volunteers report to the Thrift Shop Director, who arranges the schedule for volunteer shifts and staffing. Volunteers may also report to our Volunteer Manager, Nolan Isaacson, with other questions regarding their participation.

To Apply:

Please reach out to colette@prismmpls.org with "Volunteer Opportunity" somewhere in the subject line. We will then instruct you on our application process and schedule a time to meet with you!

PRISM is currently seeking Front Desk volunteers to help support our program operations! We offer a very flexible schedule and are eager to have new members to our team. If you have customer service or reception experience, this may be a great opportunity for you!

Our front desk volunteers serve as our primary point of contact for participants, donors, volunteer and all other external inquiries. 

Volunteer Job Responsibilities:

All participants, volunteers and visitors should be treated with respect, courtesy, and a friendly demeanor. Volunteers are expected to provide great customer service. Volunteers are to adopt the perspective that any error related to PRISM policy by a participant, volunteer, or visitor is likely due to a misunderstanding or lack of knowledge rather than on purpose. Whenever a conflict or misunderstanding with a participant policy or procedure situation arises, the volunteer is to consult with PRISM staff for advice and guidance. Volunteers are provided with and expected to wear a name tag while volunteering.

 

Volunteer Duties and Requirements

The Front Desk Volunteer is the critical first point of contact with participants. PRISM takes great pride in treating every person with dignity and honoring the diverse strengths and abilities each person brings. Volunteers working at the Front Desk will perform a variety of duties including:

Greet participants, volunteers, and visitors in a warm, friendly and welcoming manner Directly serve participants with check-in Provide information accurately and in a timely manner such as phone numbers of other social service agencies Answer phone inquiries and direct caller to appropriate staff Attempt to discern a participant’s or visitor’s native language whose first language is other than English and contact the appropriate PRISM staff member or case manager Maintain a clean, safe, welcoming, and orderly work and reception environment Notify staff or Lead Volunteer of any issues Stay informed of changes to PRISM’s processes and services as well as that of other social service agencies Other duties as assigned

Lead Volunteer Duties and Requirements

Lead volunteers must meet all of above duties and requirements plus:

Update volunteers with information for day and shift, as well as with information on changes to PRISM’s processes and services and that of other social service agencies Orient and train new volunteers to Front Desk operations Be a resource for volunteers

Knowledge, Skills, Education, Experience:

Effective interpersonal skills under all types of conditions, exhibiting a supportive, direct, and positive approach with participants, staff and other volunteers Experience working with diverse populations with the demonstrated ability to communicate and relate effectively to a wide variety of individuals Ability to learn and acquire overall knowledge of PRISM, its services and staff, and other social service agencies Volunteers with experience in retail and/or direct customer service do particularly well here Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, as required Must not have a misdemeanor or felony record

Reporting Relationship:

The Front Desk volunteers report to the Office Coordinator, who arranges the schedule for volunteer shifts and staffing.