NOVA Cooking Matters, Class Assistant

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If you're interested in this position, please click here to complete our online application. This volunteer position takes place out of our NOVA office at 6833 Hill Park Drive Lorton, VA 22079.

Position Overview:

Cooking Matters is a national 6-week, hands-on nutrition and cooking educational series developed by Share Our Strength. It is offered through the Capital Area Food Bank to limited resource participants around the DC Metropolitan Area. As a class assistant, you will have the opportunity to work with a passionate team of volunteers to engage and encourage participants to choose healthier foods for a healthier lifestyle. You will be responsible for ensuring that each class runs smoothly so that participant receives the highest quality learning experience.

Classes are taught by a team of volunteer nutrition instructors, culinary instructors, and class assistants and cover basic nutrition, cooking, meal planning, and shopping. Classes are two hours in length and participants take home a grocery bag of ingredients to replicate class recipes at home. Volunteers receive the curriculum that will be taught in class. There are different curricula for a variety of different audiences including children 8 to 12 years old, adults, teens, teen parents, families, adults with preschool-aged children, and adults with specific medical conditions. Please visit www.cookingmatters.org for more information on the Cooking Matters Program.

Primary Duties:

• Assist in shopping for groceries as needed
• Unload groceries and supplies
• Assemble grocery bag for each participant
• Assist culinary/nutrition instructor with activities and classroom management.
• Work with participants
• Help with set up and clean up

Minimum Requirements:

• Interest in working with low-income individuals with diverse backgrounds
• Ability to travel to class location
• Willingness to work as a team and adhere to program policies and procedures

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to stand for 2 hours and lead a hands-on, cooking & nutrition education class

Volunteer Work Schedule:

• 3 hours a day for one day a week for six consecutive weeks (2 hours for class, hour for set-up, and hour for clean-up) plus lesson planning and preparation time on own. Hours will vary depending on site location.

Position Location:

• Different community sites throughout the Fairfax County

Impact of this volunteer opportunity:

• Make a real difference in the lives of people at risk of hunger
• Gain teaching experience
• Meet a new and diverse group of people