Food Rescue Assistant

As a member of the Harvest Share team, the Food Rescue Assistant will assist with the overall Food Inventory Management, food distribution, Food Rescue and Food Bank Programs,

Our Food Rescue Program is essentially designed to rescue good quality, surplus food from willing grocery stores, retailers, restaurants and camps in the Parry Sound Area.

Through this process we reduce food waste in our landfill sites, reduce greenhouse gases and provide quality Fresh, Frozen and non-perishable food to our clients through the programs that we provide to the community. We also share this rescued food with community partners in the District of Parry Sound.

The successful candidate with assist in the following areas: Food Rescue, Food Bank and Outreach

Food Bank Duties

• To assist with Food Bank Preparation, prepping food and packing hampers with non-perishable and Fresh Food.
• To assist with distribution of food hampers and children’s bags to our clients.
• To ensure proper food handling processes are maintained to ensure Public Health requirements are met.
• To process food donations, inspecting all food for best before dates, integrity of packaging, cans, etc.
• To ensure all donations are weighed and recorded in the log Book daily.
• To ensure all purchased and donated food for the food bank is placed in an organized fashion in it’s designated storage space.
• To ensure work stations are kept clean and are sanitized.

Food Rescue Duties

• To assist with unloading rescued and donated food from vehicles, ensuring it has been weighed and recorded. Fresh fruits and vegetables will need to be prepped for distribution, to be included in our Fresh and Frozen portion of our Food Hampers to our clients.
• To assist with the transport of donated food from local grocery stores and business to our Food Rescue location for processing.
• To transport food from Harvest Share’s Food Rescue location at 70 Isabella St to the food bank location at 93 James Street.
• To assist with overall Food Inventory Management.
• To ensure established systems that reduce food waste are utilized (eg. composting).

Outreach Duties

• To assist in the co-ordination of Food Rescue opportunities with willing local grocery stores, restaurants, retailers, camps and businesses.

Other Duties

• Record keeping – ensuring all incoming and outgoing food is weighed and recorded. The Food Rescue Assistant is responsible assist in keeping food inventory up to date.
• To work co-operative with all volunteers and staff of Harvest Share Programs.
• To assist with the provision of our Community Meals program.
• To assist with fund raising and special events of Harvest Share.

Job Recruitments

• The successful candidate must be physically fit and able to lift 25 + lbs. This is a very physical position unloading and moving food on a daily basis.
• A driver’s license with clean driving history is a must.

Desired Traits and Abilities

• A passion for food and reducing food waste.
• Friendly, enthusiastic and able to multi task.
• Ability to model dignity and respect for all other people.
• Ability to be confidential.
• Desire to work in a friendly team environment that makes an impact in the community.
• Ability to work with sensitivity and without discrimination towards people of diverse cultures, ethnicity, social economic positions, ages, religions, genders, disabilities and sexual orientation.
• Problem solving.
• Ability to work independently and as a team.
• Knowledge of safe food handling, possession of a safe food handling certificate would be considered an asset.
• Knowledge of poverty, social justice and social issues.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Terms of Employment

• This is a 12 month contract position with possibility of extension. Probation period: 3 months from day of hire.
• Rate of pay: $18 – $20 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications.
• Hours per week: 35 hours, 5 days a week x 7 hours, with some evenings and weekends required.

Job Type: Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: $18.00-$20.00 per hour

Expected hours: 35 per week

Application question(s):

• Do you have a valid driver’s license and clean driving record?

Experience:

• Food handling: 1 year (required)

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (required)

Location:

• Parry Sound, ON (required)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2025-10-24

ATTENTION JOB SEEKERS • The job description presented in this posting is solely that of the employer. The YMCA Employment Service is not responsible for the accuracy, reliability or currency of this information and does not accept any liability for the conduct and/or practices of employer.