| Opportunity Type: |
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunity |
| Department: |
Public Health |
| Category: |
Human Services and Public Health |
| Time Commitment & Minimum Age: |
Mondays 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. year-round, as Volunteer's Schedule Permits |
| Location: |
Boulder County Farmers’ Markets Warehouse: 1821 Lefthand Circle, Longmont, CO, Unit D; deliveries will be made throughout Boulder County, but some may be in Broomfield County or Weld County within 5 miles from the Boulder County line
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| Program Summary: |
Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) & Built Environment/ Environmental Health
Description of Work: Boulder County Public Health’s (BCPH) Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) and Built Environment along with its Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Programs collaborate with Boulder County Farmers Markets (BCFM) to provide fresh and locally grown produce to families in need. Every Monday, BCFM packs hundreds of bags of local vegetables and partners with Via Mobility services to deliver the produce bags to Boulder County families (i.e. WIC families) and childcare centers serving children living in households experiencing food insecurity.
This effort supports local families and also provides an important sales outlet for Boulder County’s local farmers. Volunteer drivers are critical to the success of this program and help bring fresh and local produce to families in need who otherwise might have challenges visiting farmers markets to participate in at-market programming.
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| Duties and Responsibilities: |
• Volunteer will choose:
o Whether to drive own vehicle or use a vehicle from Via Mobilities fleet (this will require a more extensive training).
o How many deliveries to make in a day (i.e. it takes roughly one hour to do 10 – 12 deliveries, depending on the density of the route).
o Which Mondays to deliver the produce bags.
o Which Boulder County areas to deliver to such as Longmont, Boulder, Erie, Lafayette, Lyons, etc.
• Volunteer will
o Receive delivery route on the Fridays prior to the selected Mondays.
o Pick up produce bags at the BCFM warehouse on the Mondays of choice between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m.; bags will be loaded in the vehicle by staff.
o Deliver produce bags to the corresponding addresses (i.e. knocking on the door and leaving the bags if no one is home).
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| Qualifications and Requirements: |
Education & Experience:
None required.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Interest in food access, local food systems, and supporting the community.
• Comfort in driving and navigating designated routes.
• Good communication skills and responsiveness by personal email/phone in case of delivery route changes (no laptop/cell phone will be provided; volunteer will use their own devices for any communication).
• Ability to conduct oneself in a responsible and professional manner.
Special Requirements:
• Must have a valid driver’s license and personal vehicle is strongly preferred; if using personal vehicle, must have adequate automobile insurance.
• Must submit immunization history form and immunization documentation. Some immunizations (e.g. COVID-19 vaccine) and/or tuberculosis (TB) tests may be required (at the expense of BCPH), and volunteer/intern must comply with these requirements prior to start date.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. repeatedly (most bags are less than 20 lbs.).
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| Training Dates and Information: |
Training, Experience, and Benefits:
• Minimal training will be provided.
• Volunteer will receive their own bag of fresh, locally grown vegetables as a thank you.
• Experience gained in food access programming in Boulder County with an understanding about how partnerships can improve food security and support farmers and the local food system.
Supervision: This position will be supervised by the HEAL Specialist who will connect the volunteer with the BCFM Food Access Specialist.
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| Additional Information: |
Agency Expectations:
• Create health equity: Health equity means everyone has the opportunity to attain their highest level of health. All staff at Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) are expected to work toward achieving health equity in Boulder County.
• Support diversity: BCPH is committed to the diversity of its staff, as well as providing culturally responsive programs and services that help to reduce health inequities in Boulder County. BCPH welcomes and encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds and abilities to apply.
• Conduct work in accordance with BCPH core values: Foster Trust; Demonstrate Respect and Compassion; Collaborate and Build Strong Teams; Be Flexible, Creative, and Innovative; Pursue and Support Personal and Professional Growth; Recognize Leadership in Everyone; and Promote Inclusion and Honor the Life Experiences of Others.
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| Contact: |
How to Apply: Submit an application online or contact Volunteer/Intern Services:
BCPH Volunteer/Intern Services Program
3450 Broadway St.
Boulder CO 80304
Email: healthvs@bouldercounty.org
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