Now Hiring: Communications Strategist, AmeriCorps Nourish Iowa VISTA
Position Summary:
As a Communications Strategist VISTA for Table to Table in Iowa City, you will streamline communications processes for a regional network of food donors and other allied organizations. Your service term will leave you well-equipped to coordinate an organization’s outreach to volunteers, donors, and the public. You will research and support applications for new sources of funding and spearhead marketing of the organization to local businesses to form marketing partnerships. You will lead the team in updating the website to new brand standards and create ongoing content about current activities for Table to Table’s website and social media accounts with a particular focus on accessibility for diverse audiences as well as ease of use for food transportation workers seeking to donate rejected product that is still safe to eat. You’ll develop and share consistent county-level service information with the community to build broad awareness of resources available among the general public.
Read more about member benefits here.
Table to Table Communications Strategist AmeriCorps Nourish Iowa VISTA 2024-2025
Schedule and Duration:
32 hours per week for one year posting. Primarily four days per week from 8AM to 4PM with some flexibility, and some evening hours. One remote work day per week offered. Other days and times as needed and agreed upon.
Required: Willing to consent to an AmeriCorps background check.
About AmeriCorps VISTA
As a member in the AmeriCorps VISTA program, you serve full time for one-year. You will build capacity in nonprofit organizations and public agencies to help them more effectively generate the commitment of private sector resources, encourage volunteer service at the local level, and empower individuals and communities. As an AmeriCorps member you will serve in a project identified and managed by the community while earning a modest living allowance that reflects the income level of the community where you’re serving. Learn more here >
Financial Information, Benefits, & Additional Information: https://americorps.gov/members-volunteers/vista/benefits
Supervision Given by: The Communications Strategist VISTA is supervised by the T2T Executive Director and is part of a team including the T2T Communications & Development Coordinator.
If you’re interested in this AmeriCorps position, please submit an email of interest and/or a resume and cover letter (welcome but not required) to Elizabeth Wagner at Table to Table via email: hr@table2table.org
Qualifications & Competencies:
- Enthusiastic advocate for food rescue, hunger relief, and food waste reduction.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, maintaining energy through often repetitive tasks. Ability to switch gears quickly and manage multiple tasks concurrently.
- Ability to work autonomously and perform well under pressure. Detail-oriented & resourceful.
- Functional knowledge and ability to use Microsoft Office and Google Suite
- Experience with WordPress and Canva preferred
Licenses & Qualifications:
- Preferred but not required: Over 21 with a valid driver’s license for a minimum of 4 years and good driving record (must be insurable under organization liability insurance); willing to drive large vehicles.
- Must be able to use technology including computers, printers, phones, vehicle and refrigeration units, and other equipment. Functional knowledge of computer systems.
Table to Table’s Mission Statement:
Table to Table bridges the gap between abundance and hunger. Our mission is to increase food equity and reduce environmental harm by collecting and redistributing surplus food through partners to people who can use it.
Natalie Leathers Welcome Announcement
We are thrilled to welcome Natalie Leathers as our new Communications & Development Coordinator at Table to Table! Natalie brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to our team, and we couldn’t be more excited to have her on board.
Natalie holds a BA in Political Science with a certificate in writing from the University of Iowa, where she also worked as a media intern for the Public Policy Center and a student researcher with the Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab. Her deep-rooted passion for communications, outreach, and community service makes her the perfect fit for this role. Natalie will be spearheading volunteer recruitment, outreach initiatives, and events planning—so you’ll likely see her in the thick of things at our upcoming fundraisers or community events.
When asked about why she was drawn to Table to Table, Natalie shared that she’s not only inspired by our food rescue mission but also deeply passionate about climate action. Her love for community work blossomed during her time with “Hawk the Vote,” and she’s excited to dive right into hands-on work—especially hopping on her food rescue routes! She’s also eager to start planning events, like our annual dinner, and exploring new ways to grow our community outreach.
A fun fact about Natalie? She’s an avid photographer! While she humbly claims not to be a pro, she’s been behind the lens since childhood, and we’re hoping to see some of her creative talent in action at our events. Natalie’s favorite food memory is baking the “Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies” with her mom as a kid. A recipe originally sourced from a food magazine, Natalie says “They really are perfect and so delicious. I still make them with her all the time when I go home to visit.” Since food is the way to win T2T hearts, we hope she will bring them back to Iowa City with her sometime!
So, whether you’re a volunteer, donor, or partner, we can’t wait for you to meet Natalie and work with her on telling the Table to Table story. Be sure to give her a warm welcome when you see her around!
Now Hiring: Development & Communications Coordinator
Position & Ideal Candidate Overview: Are you looking for a role in Communications, Marketing, or Fundraising where you’ll utilize your varied skill set to make a huge community impact? You could be the next Communications and Development Coordinator for Table to Table. We are looking for an outstanding communicator and a community-minded individual who is passionate and enthusiastic about conveying our mission to inspire and encourage engagement from volunteers, organizations, and the general public. The ideal candidate is organized, self-motivated, and has a great attitude to contribute to the positive strengths-based culture at T2T. The right candidate is patient and persistent in a dynamic work environment where there are tight deadlines and multiple requests or projects at any given moment. As this is a public-facing role, we’re looking for a “people person” who is tactful and enjoys interacting with those of diverse ages, abilities, and backgrounds. If you have these qualifications and want to put your time and energy toward feeding thousands of people in our community, this is the job for you!
Employment Status and Work Hours: (Full-time position)
Monday through Friday 8-4 with flexibility, some weekends and evenings required
40 hours per week, some overtime required
Pay & Benefits: $40,000 to $46,000 annually, depending on experience.
Benefit package includes paid vacation and sick leave, employer retirement contribution, along with 80% employer covered premium for employee health and dental coverage.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Create and implement fundraising campaigns, including appeal letters and online giving campaigns
- Implement community outreach and media relationships and strategies, including regular public speaking engagements and presentations.
- Lead the planning and coordination of the annual dinner fundraiser including event committee leadership, promotion, logistics, food, and fundraising.
- Organize promotional events like Love Food Fight Waste, UI Homecoming Parade, and other outreach events.
- Write and create graphics for key organization publications including: newsletters, the annual report, brochures, fact sheets, etc.
- Design ads, flyers, banners, brochures, fact sheets, event signage, invitations, etc. as needed.
- Execute social media strategy.
Desired Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, marketing, or a related field, or a combination of relevant education and professional experience in marketing, event planning, communications, fundraising, and/or community relations.
Necessary Skills and Requirements
- Valid driver’s license and good driving record.
- Excellent public speaking, presentation, and writing skills for the purpose of recruiting volunteers, fundraising, and promoting Table to Table’s mission. Ability to connect with others and forge strong relationships.
Review the complete Communications and Development Coordinator Job Description 2024.
To apply, email a resume and cover letter to hr@table2table.org
We Bid Farewell and Good Luck to Communications & Development Coordinator Anne Hlavacek
It’s with mixed emotions that we announce that Anne Hlavacek (née Langebartels) is leaving T2T to return to university to further her education.
In 2019, Anne joined us as our first development and communications staff. Before T2T, Anne served as an AmeriCorps Vista at Feed Iowa First, where she built their new development and outreach role. This made her uniquely qualified to do something similar at Table to Table. After only a few months on the team, we were particularly fortunate to have her support during the challenging pandemic years when nothing was normal and our template for communications and engagement went out the window.
Anne has been incredibly adept at communicating challenging concepts about food access & equity, food recovery, and the value of nonprofit work in both writing and design. Some of her favorite projects and most meaningful projects include
- 25 Years of Impact Report – Anne’s huge investment of effort into interviews, archive review, writing, and design is evident in this representation of the T2T legacy.
- “Greatest Table” card – packed full of great information in an easy to read design that makes you want to know more.
- The Power of Partnerships – in our most recent report to the community, Anne highlighted work that represents our values of collaboration, equity, appreciation, and love.
Through this incredible work and so much more not listed here, she has helped raise the profile and recognition of Table to Tables critical contributions to the community. Anne’s efforts have also helped T2T significantly build our program capacity. High fundraising performance of appeals and fundraising initiatives funded additional operational capacity that increased our food collection by 750,000 pounds.
When Anne joined the team, the road ahead was filled with opportunity and challenge which she approached with diligence and creativity. She has helped us build a strong, sustainable foundation for our relationships with funders, volunteers, and our community as a whole. We wish Anne well as she embarks upon her MFA journey at Iowa State University where we know she’ll build new skills and relationships that will continue to have a lasting impact on her community.
Know someone who might be interested in joining the team as our new Communications Coordinator – read more about the position here.
Now Enrolling: Green Iowa AmeriCorps positions
Join our team! Green Iowa AmeriCorps Positions at Table to Table
Position Summary:
Green Iowa AmeriCorps Members contribute to the hunger relief efforts in Johnson County by supporting the daily function of our food rescue program and expanding those efforts. The Food Rescue Specialist is part of the team welcoming & directing volunteers, actualizing smooth pick-up and delivery of food donations, preparing T2T’s fleet of vehicles for food rescue routes, coordinating volunteers & leading them to glean (harvest) excess produce from local farms and gardens, as well as getting the food to food-insecure individuals via Free Produce Stands.
T2T serves as the hub for 60% of the food distributed by Johnson County’s hunger relief network. The best candidate is an energetic team player with strong communication skills who enjoys interacting with people of diverse ages and backgrounds.
AmeriCorps Service Term Options:
Summer “Minimum-time” Position: June 3rd – August 16th, 2024
11-month Service Position: September 16th, 2024 – August 15th, 2025
Work Hours:
At least two days Monday-Friday from 8am until noon or 3:30pm with some flexibility.
Up to two evenings a week 3-7:30pm for Free Produce Stands. Other days and times as needed and agreed upon. May include weekend Free Produce Stands, gleaning & volunteer events, farmer’s markets, or outreach events with partner organizations.
About AmeriCorps:
AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism in the United States. It’s an opportunity for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities and their country through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups. AmeriCorps members address critical needs such as literacy, health, housing, technology, the environment, economic development, and many other fields. It is a chance to apply your skills and energy toward helping others and strengthening the organizations that make a positive difference in Americans’ lives. Learn more here >
Financial Information, Benefits, & Additional Information: Available through Green Iowa >
Supervision Given By: The Food Rescue Programs & Services Manager
Qualifications & Competencies:
- Enthusiastic advocate for food rescue, hunger relief, and food waste reduction.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, maintaining energy through often repetitive tasks. Ability to switch gears quickly and manage multiple tasks concurrently.
- Ability to work autonomously and perform well under pressure. Detail-oriented & resourceful.
- Functional knowledge and ability to use Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
Licenses & Qualifications:
- Required: Must be able to regularly and repeatedly lift and move 20-40 lbs.
- Preferred but not required: Over 21 with a valid driver’s license for a minimum of 4 years and good driving record (must be insurable under organization liability insurance); willing to drive large vehicles.
- Must be able to use technology including computers, printers, phones, vehicle and refrigeration units, and other equipment. Functional knowledge of computer systems.
Essential Functions:
Lead Gleaning and Farm Produce Collection Efforts
- Harvest excess produce from farms and gardens
- Collect excess produce from markets and produce auctions
- Recruit and communicate with farmer- and gardener-donors to increase local food donations
- Recruit and schedule volunteers, including communication of location and time for activities
- Lead volunteers in gleaning activities
- Demonstrate best practices for food handling safety
- Motivate and build up the local farmer- and gardener-donor network through recognition events and outreach
- Connect with other gleaners in Iowa and build or rebuild gleaning communications and networks
- Track data and evaluate trends around gleaning efforts
Food Distribution through Free Produce Stands
- Deliver harvested and prepared produce to local partners in the Johnson County hunger relief network including food pantries & overnight shelters
- Facilitate produce pop-up stands (Free Produce Stands) in neighborhoods & community locations to deliver free produce to food insecure individuals
- Lead volunteers in setup and tear down of produce stands
Volunteer & Program Operations Duties
- Recruit and schedule volunteers as needed for gleaning, Free Produce Stands, and food rescue operations
- Utilize communications tools and create materials to increase public awareness of programs, services & opportunities
- Participate in food rescue program by picking up donations from local partners and delivering/unloading donations at distribution sites
- Record volunteer feedback and pass on pertinent information that impacts planning and management of food rescue program
- Answer phone calls, greet volunteers & visitors, and accept walk-in donations
- Unload and organize food received and work with staff to determine the appropriate distribution of food donations
- Organize and maintain food inventory: freezer, cold, and dry food storage spaces
- Complete Fleet & Facility Prep duties as needed when volunteer positions are unfilled
- Track data and evaluate trends: Perform food rescue program data entry & assist with volunteer record keeping through Salesforce
Typical challenges this position will face:
- Frequent interruptions, especially during hours with heaviest volunteer activity
- Last-minute volunteer & logistics scheduling conflicts
- Needing to make sound, quick decisions based upon available information
Work Environment:
- Work is in-person in both an office and warehouse/transportation environment
Interested in learning more?
Information & application here >
Table to Table’s Mission Statement:
Table to Table bridges the gap between abundance and hunger. Our mission is to increase food equity and reduce environmental harm by collecting and redistributing surplus food through partners to people who can use it.
