Food Stamp Advocates needed

Posted by on August 24, 2009

[ed note: This is one of the key service areas PHENND is hoping to support in our new Learn and Serve grant.  Read more at: https://phennd.org/index.php/initiatives/initiatives/credit_path/]

Food Stamp Advocates work to reduce hunger in Philadelphia through their work with the Food Stamp Enrollment Campaign. We seek to improve access to the Food Stamp Program by reducing some of the barriers commonly faced by clients in the application process. Our volunteers visit a wide variety of community sites to conduct outreach, screenings, and application assistance for potentially eligible households.

No experience is necessary; training will be provided! Opportunities for further involvement in our education and advocacy efforts may be available.

Specifically, volunteers’ tasks will include:
– Provide information to low-income families about the Food Stamp Program through outreach at one of the Coalition’s outreach sites
– Screen low-income families to assess eligibility for food stamps and estimate benefit level
– Assist interested clients in applying either with a paper application or using the online application
– Advise clients about required documentation and provide additional assistance to those without this documentation
– Advocate for clients who encounter problems in the application process by working with Department of Public Welfare staff to identify and resolve issues
– Optional work with other Coalition events and activities, including the Walk Against Hunger
– Work at least two hours each week

Training provided:
– Volunteers must attend two, two-hour training session.
– The training will cover a background of the Food Stamp Enrollment Campaign; Rules and Regulations of the Food Stamp Program; and How to Conduct Outreach and Screenings.

– Trainings will be held as follows:

Tuesday, September 15 and Thursday, September 17, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm

Monday, September 21 and Wednesday, September 23, from 7 pm to 9 pm

Qualifications:
– Strong communication skills and interpersonal skills are necessary
– Spanish and other language abilities are a plus

Skills acquired:
Volunteers will improve their communication and interpersonal skills, as well as develop case management abilities. They will gain an in-depth knowledge of the Food Stamp Program and the broader welfare bureaucracy and will acquire the ability to help clients navigate this system successfully. Volunteers will have the opportunity to connect people with an important public benefit and to think critically about the barriers that keep people from applying for such benefits and ways to overcome these barriers. Their work will inform the Coalition’s advocacy efforts, which aim to improve access to public benefits for all Philadelphians in need.

For more information, please contact Emily, Volunteer Coordinator
[email protected]
(215) 430-0555 ext 108

You can find more information about us at http://www.hungercoalition.org.