FoodCorps AmeriCorps Member

Who We Are

FoodCorps partners with schools and communities to nourish kids’ health, education, and sense of belonging so that every child, in every school, experiences the joy and power of food. Our AmeriCorps members partner with educators and school nutrition professionals to provide kids with nourishing meals, food education, and culturally affirming experiences with food that celebrate and nurture the whole child. Building on this direct partnership, FoodCorps advocates for policy change, grows networks, and develops leaders in service of every kid’s health and wellbeing. Our goal is that by 2030, every child will have access to food education and nourishing food in school!

What We’re Looking For

• Experience in hands-on teaching and/or a desire to gain hands-on teaching experience in food education
• Commitment to building a healthier future for school children by teaching
• Demonstrated leadership aptitude and effective communication skills
• Motivation and commitment to full-time national service directly in a school community
• Self determination, accountability, and initiative in the face of challenges and solutions-oriented creativity
• Respect for diversity of opinion, experience, and background
• Display a growth mindset by being willing to grow through coaching and implementation of feedback
• Knowledge of culture, history, and/or language of the partner community

To be considered for a FoodCorps member position, you must:

• Be 18 years or older by the start of your term
• Be a legal, permanent resident of the United States
• Hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent at the start of the term

Individual positions differ by location. There may be additional requirements, such as language proficiencies and access to a vehicle, depending on the site to which you apply.

What You’ll Do: There are two corps member positions available, Food Education and School Nutrition.

Food Education

Food Education AmeriCorps members teach alongside educators to provide kids in K-8 schools with food education and culturally affirming experiences with food that celebrate and nurture the whole child. Although they do this in a variety of ways depending on local partner goals, below are the foundational activities that all Food Education members complete: 

Essential Functions

• Teach FoodCorps specific lessons that focus on hands-on food education to nourish students' sense of belonging and develop students' mastery of food literacy skills, so students can make informed decisions about their food choices and advocate for school meal menu changes.
• Build a school-wide movement that promotes food education and culturally affirming menu change while collaborating with teachers, families, and school administrators.
• Participate in FoodCorps training around teaching, gardening, family engagement, and anti-racism. This will require overnight travel, about 3 times throughout the term (summer, fall, and spring). Each training will be 4 days and 3 nights.
• Complete administrative tasks for FoodCorps reporting and evaluation that measures local and national impact and improves FoodCorps programming (for example, submitting timesheets, sharing impact data and stories, administering surveys, and providing regular feedback)
• Members may grow nourishing food with students, teachers, and families to create dynamic educational gardens where kids can get their hands dirty while learning about food. This role may require a moderate level of physical activity, primarily in the fall and in the spring. Tasks include: consistent lifting, bending, shoveling soil and compost, working in a hoophouse, etc. These activities may take place in variable weather conditions (heat, humidity, or cold).

Non-Essential Functions

• Publicize FoodCorps-related projects and success stories through press engagements, blog writing, social media posts, newsletters, etc.
• Collaborate with community partners to raise money to support local FoodCorps-related projects (when allowable).

School Nutrition

School Nutrition members work with school districts, partner organizations, and local communities to support adoption of practices and policies that promote nourishing school food environments. They do this in a variety of ways:

Essential Functions

• Establish and support feedback loops, coordinate student-led advisory groups and collaborate with other FoodCorps members to incorporate and drive student-driven menu change 
• Contribute to the operational aspect of local procurement efforts that support menu development. 
• Advance and promote nourishing school meals through collaboration with food service staff, coordinating and supporting skill-building for school staff, and contributing to community partnerships that support school meal initiatives. 
• Coordinate parent/community advisory groups, improving communication and perception of school meals between the nutrition department and school community, and engage with the community through event coordination and participation. 
• Support holistic social and emotional development, empower students and celebrate cultural identity/practices, center justice and support consumption of nourishing meals. 
• Participate in FoodCorps training around teaching, gardening, family engagement, and anti-racism. This will require overnight travel, about 3 times throughout the term (summer, fall, and spring). Each training will be 4 days and 3 nights.
• Complete administrative tasks for FoodCorps reporting and evaluation that measures local and national impact and improves FoodCorps programming (for example, submitting timesheets, sharing impact data and stories, administering surveys, and providing regular feedback) 

Non-Essential Functions

• Provide direct support to the food service operation, such as food preparation and service, maintaining safety and sanitation standards, recordkeeping and lifting heavy boxes.
• Stay up to date on relevant USDA regulations that affect the operations of the school nutrition program.
• Work with garden equipment and supplies (shovels, wheelbarrows, soil, seeds and knives) 
• Raising resources, grant writing, keeping up to date records and/or coordinating grantees on updates and storytelling. 

What You’ll Gain

• Up to $33,000 living stipend for FoodCorps Members, paid bi-weekly.
• AmeriCorps Segal Education Award, upon successful completion of your term of national service. This is currently $7,395 and is contingent upon National Funding.
• Health insurance*
• Partial childcare reimbursement, if you qualify
• Student loan forbearance, if you qualify
• Training, mentorship, and professional development opportunities

*Participation in FoodCorps health insurance is required unless proof of existing coverage is provided.

Where You’ll Work

FoodCorps offers positions in multiple states, including communities throughout AR, AL, CA, CT, DC, GA, IA, KY, MD, ME, MA, MI, MO, MS, NJ, NM, OH, OR and RI. To see our local Partner Sites, visit: https://foodcorps.org/where-we-work/ 

The Details

This position runs from August 11, 2025 to July 17, 2026. In order to successfully complete your term, you must, at a minimum, complete 1,700 allowable hours during this time. 

FoodCorps members report to the designated supervisor at their partner site. FoodCorps state and national staff provide additional guidance and oversight.

FoodCorps members are expected to abide by rules of conduct set forth in their member contract and will be evaluated for performance twice during the term: at the midpoint and end of the term. Performance is evaluated based on progress toward achieving goals 

set forth in your unique plan as well as general professional conduct in the partner site environment. FoodCorps members who break the rules of conduct may be suspended and/or terminated at any time.

FoodCorps is a proud member of the AmeriCorps network. All FoodCorps members are full-time AmeriCorps members and are therefore bound by AmeriCorps rules and regulations, including abiding by AmeriCorps prohibited activities and ensuring that volunteers abide by prohibited activities, which can be found in your member contract and your FoodCorps Member Handbook. See www.americorps.gov for more information about AmeriCorps national service.

All FoodCorps members must pass a three-part background check to be eligible for national service, including clearing the National Sex Offender Public Registry, state background checks in your state of service and residence at time of application, and an FBI criminal history check (fingerprint-based). This position includes access to vulnerable populations (individuals with disabilities, senior citizens, and/or youth). To successfully perform their duties, FoodCorps members must be able to stand for extended periods of time to teach; supervise groups of children in- and outdoors; perform manual labor in the school garden, including digging, getting up and down, lifting garden equipment; aid children in the garden; coordinate and organize meetings; recruit and manage volunteers; and travel to and from National Orientation and Gatherings as required.Your position is unique to AmeriCorps and does not displace organization staff or volunteers.

FoodCorps is an equal opportunity organization and we respect diversity. FoodCorps does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state, or local laws, regulations or ordinances. 

FoodCorps provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees as required by law. Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation at any point in the employment process.All positions at FoodCorps are at-will. FoodCorps Member positions, though designed to last for one year, are not guaranteed for a set period of time. Both FoodCorps members and FoodCorps have the right to terminate the position at any time. FoodCorps reserves the right to conduct employment, education, and background checks upon which your position may be contingent.