Jessica Zha, the current AmeriCorps Vista and Coordinator for the Campus Kitchen at Johns Hopkins University, will leave her position in July 2010 to pursue medical school. The school just listed the AmeriCorps position on idealist.org. Below, she describes her top five reasons why she loves her job. Also below: the job listing – or check out the full description on idealist.org.

#5: I get to work with food ALL THE TIME… and yes that does mean I sometimes get to sample the merchandise.

#4: I get to SAVE tons of food from being wasted.

#3: I work in an amazing office at the JHU Center for Social Concern, which is the hub for all community engagement activities at Hopkins, and which is staffed by awesome folks that enthusiastically support our cause.

#2: I have the privilege of working with an amazing team of students who DONATE their time and energy toward fighting poverty in our community.

#1: I know that my efforts are helping to make a difference BOTH by our immediate efforts AS WELL AS by the legacy that we’re building which will carry over to future Hopkins generation

Jessica Zha (Pictured in the middle sorting boxes) at work in the Campus Kitchen

Description:

The Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Social Concern (CSC) seeks an AmeriCorps*VISTA member to serve as a primary coordinator for its Campus Kitchen chapter. The Campus Kitchens Project (www.campuskitchens.org) is a national student-driven food recover organization dedicated to connecting community agencies with surplus food collected for college campuses, private business owners, gardens and farms. The food is prepared by students to make for nutritious meals to be delivered to schools, shelters, churches, and other community organizations in need.

Additional Qualifications:

The AmeriCorps*VISTA will work with the Campus Kitchen at JHU’s student leadership team to:
-Manage pick-up, cooking, and delivery shifts.
-Work with the leaership team to outreach t new donors and new food recipients.
-Convene an advisory board on a quarterly basis.
-Recruit new student volunteers.
-Advise two work-study students on managing cooking shifts and grant writing.
-Work with the student groups who manage a garden plot and do gleaning trips.
-Assist in fundraising.
-Keep track of kitchen inventories.
-Be a resource to other Maryland campuses who may want to start a Campus Kitchen.
-Participate in two campus days of service.
-Be able to work occasional evenings.

How to Apply:

For more information about AmeriCorps*VISTA, please visit www.americorps.gov. For more information about the Campus Kitchen at JHU, visit www.campuskitchens.org/schools/jhu. For more information about the CSC, visit www.jhu.edu/csc.

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to William Tiefenwerth, CSC Director at btief@jhu.edu.

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