Cooking Matters seeks volunteer facilitators to facilitate nutrition lessons, cooking demonstrations, and educational activities for cooking and nutrition classes in their communities.
About Cooking Matters at Home
Cooking Matters at Home classes are a pivot to virtual classes combining cooking, nutrition, menu planning, budgeting, kitchen safety and sanitation to community members experiencing food insecurity.
Each Cooking Matters at Home class is led by a staff Community Food Educator, a Volunteer Facilitator, and a Tech Volunteer who work together to facilitate fun, interactive, and informative classes for participants. Volunteers co-facilitate educational activities, conversations about the food system, and cooking demonstrations. Classes are held virtually via Zoom in partnership with community organizations like housing sites, health clinics, schools, and other service-providing agencies throughout Seattle.
Volunteer Facilitator Role
We are looking for volunteers that are passionate about food, health, and sharing their passion with their communities. Training on virtual facilitation and course topics will be provided. Volunteers do not have to have a formal cooking or nutrition background, but ideally are a home cook.
Black, indigenous, people of color, immigrants, and people with the lived experience of food insecurity are strongly encouraged to apply.
Time Commitment
Classes meet virtually twice per week for six weeks. Each week includes one 90-minute class and one 45-minute cooking demonstration later that same week. Volunteers are asked to log onto Zoom thirty minutes before class begins, and stay on thirty minutes after class to troubleshoot. Time commitment is 4.5 hours per week.
Training
Volunteers must attend Solid Ground New Volunteer Orientation, Community Food Education New Volunteer Training and complete the volunteer application process (includes passing WA state background check and obtaining Food Worker Card).
Qualifications
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- Must be at least 18 years old; email volunteers@solid-ground.org to find volunteer roles for those under 18
- Interest or background in cooking and nutrition (no formal education required)
- Ability to share information about food in a nuanced, non-judgmental way that centers food access, anti-racism, and anti-oppression.
- Willingness to uphold Solid Ground’s values about food and the Cooking Matters curriculum
- In this volunteer role you will work with staff, volunteers and participants with a variety of racial, cultural and class backgrounds, lifestyles and sexual orientations. Volunteers must be open, compassionate, and understanding
- Ability to give and receive feedback clearly and directly.
- Must be reliable when showing up to volunteer, and clear when volunteer will be absent.
*Note: Volunteers will need stable internet connection and a device to use Zoom from, and Solid Ground can provide the volunteer a device for the duration of the class series if needed.
(This opportunity qualifies as an RSVP activity.)
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color), and people with the lived experience of food insecurity are strongly encouraged to apply.
Solid Ground believes poverty is solvable. Volunteers play a critical role in helping us meet basic needs, nurture success, and spread change – so everyone in our community can achieve their full potential.
