Volunteer Projects and Opportunities

Overview

Volunteering at the Co-op can entail physical activities, as well as research and organizational activities. Please contact Lindsey or Karen at the store (232-2181 or pocatellocoop@gmail.com) for more information.

We need closing clean-up volunteers on an ongoing basis. This is for one hour of basic tidying of the store at closing (8pm most days). For other opportunities, check out the following:

1. Produce Volunteer Positions
2. Farmer's Market Volunteer Positions
3. Co-op Coffee Volunteer Positions

Produce Volunteer Positions

General Produce worker:

One hour shifts weekday mornings at 8:30 and weekends at 9:30.

Responsibilities:
. Arrive on time to scheduled shifts and call in advance if unable to volunteer.
. Perform daily stocking and prepping with accuracy and efficiency.
. Perform necessary cleaning and organizing of the department.
. Follow directives of store managers.

Qualities:
. Reliable, trustworthy, accurate, and able to lift 30-50lb boxes regularly.

Produce Creative Planner:

One hour shifts any time Sunday through Wednesday.

Responsibilities:

. Create and print recipes for produce boxes and general produce customers
. Make posters related to produce nutrition and qualities
. Change department signs as department needs.
. Take directives from store managers.

Qualities:
. Reliable, trustworthy, creative, and self-directed. Local Supplier Liaison: Hours vary; approximately one hour throughout the week.

Responsibilities:
. Locate new local produce suppliers
. Coordinate local orders and drop-off times
. Take directives from store managers. Qualities:
. Reliable, trustworthy, friendly, and self-directed.

Receiving worker:

Thursdays from 8am to 10am.

Responsibilities:
. Prepare and stock incoming produce on main delivery day.
. Organize back-stock Qualities:
. Reliable, trustworthy, accurate, and able to lift 50lb boxes regularly.

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Farmer's Market Volunteer Positions:

Farmer's Market Booth Set-up:

1 hour shift at 8:30 am Saturdays

Responsibilities:
. Arrive on-time and call in-advance if unable to volunteer
. Bring items from Co-op to Farmer's Market
. Set-up table
. Serve coffee, sell merchandise, and answer questions.

Qualities:
. Friendly, reliable, and trustworthy.

Farmer's Market Booth Coffee Runner:

9:30 to 12:30 on Saturdays

Responsibilities:
. Arrive on-time and call in-advance if unable to volunteer
. Pick-up fresh coffee from the Co-op and deliver it to the Market every hour
. Sell coffee, sell merchandise, and answer questions.

Qualities:
. Timely, reliable, trustworthy, and friendly. Farmer's Market Booth Worker: 2 hour shifts between 9-11am, 11-1pm Saturdays Responsibilities:
. Arrive on-time and call in-advance if unable to volunteer
. Serve coffee, sell merchandise, and answer questions.

Qualities:
. Friendly, reliable, and trustworthy.

Farmer's Market Booth Take-down:

1 hour shift at 12:30 pm Saturdays
Responsibilities:
. Arrive on-time and call in-advance if unable to volunteer
. Take down Co-op booth and return items to the Co-op.
. Serve coffee, sell merchandise, and answer questions.

Qualities:
. Friendly, reliable, and trustworthy.

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Co-op Coffee Volunteer Positions

Opening Barista:

2 hour shifts, starting at 6:45 am.

Responsibilities:

. Arrive on time to scheduled shifts, call in-advance if unable to volunteer
. Open the coffee bar on time 6:00 am: This entails counting the till and preparing for a day of sales.
. Serve coffee and tea drinks efficiently with friendly customer service.
. Keep the area tidy and cashier accurately.
. Follow directives of the Store and/or Coffee Bar Manager.

Qualities:

. Friendly, trustworthy, reliable, and accurate.

Mid-day Barista:

Any 2 hour shift between 10 am and 5 pm. Responsibilities:

. Arrive on time to scheduled shifts, call in-advance if unable to volunteer
. Serve coffee and tea drinks efficiently with friendly customer service.
. Keep the area tidy and cashier accurately.
. Follow directives of the Store and/or Coffee Bar Manager.
. Show up for scheduled shifts and call ahead if unable to volunteer.

Qualities:

. Friendly, trustworthy, reliable, and accurate.

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In-Store/Operations (General):

1. Find access to a certified kitchen for the Co-op for cooking items for resale.
2. Find Local (primarily Pocatello, could include southern-Eastern Idaho) vendors/suppliers in these categories:
   • Crafts:
     Jewelry, knitted goods, sewn goods, small sculptures, pottery, cards, books, cookware
   • Grocery goods:
     Condiments, snacks, baked goods, chocolates, etc.
3. Create a list of environmental and health related magazines and information about wholesale/donation policies.
4. Find books written by local writers on personal, environmental, economic health/sustainability and information about wholesale/donation policies
5. Create an 11x14 educational poster/literature on one of the following topics:
   Cancer prevention, Natural pregnancy, Natural weight loss, Natural First Aid, Environmental sustainability, Diabetes, Osteoporosis, Women's Health, High Blood pressure prevention, Women's health, Men's health, Vegetarian diet, Muscle/tissue health, Skin & Hair Health, Cholesterol health, Organic farming, Breast Cancer prevention and natural cures/influencing factors, Celiac Sprue, Buy local Campaign, Fair-trade, Recycling, Curbside recycling, "Green" Building, "Green" home life...

Community:

1. Coffee shop baristas are urgently needed! Please see the information included above and the Coffee Bar page for more info.
2. Research (and/or create a survey on) community-recommended local businesses (this will eventually become a directory). If this already exists, locate and find information about having it in the store.
3. Create a list, with contact information and a description of local organizations/clubs that focus on health/sustainability.
4. Organize a recipe-sharing/cooking event with Co-op members, the recipes can then be gathered into a "Co-op Cookbook"
5. Organize an essay student contest on health/sustainability
6. Organize an adult literary magazine/journal on health/sustainability

Education:

1. Classes: Find (or be) a facilitator/teacher for these topics:
   Yoga, Natural First Aid, Creating Alternative recycled materials, Jewelry-making, Sewing Knitting, Carpentry, Welding, In-home energy efficiency, Gardening, Recycling, Gluten-free cooking, Vegan Cooking, Raw meals, Basic Nutrition, Nutritional Healing, Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable building, Healthy transportation, Bio-diesel conversion, Candle-making, Health and beauty care-making, Organic, Fair-trade, Co-operatives, Idaho environment appreciation/history, "Green-ing" your home, Paper-making, Kid's found-art class
2. Design a workshop on nutritional, environmental, economic health for elementary school students
3. Write an article about the co-op in regard to these topics:
   Fair-trade Organic Co-operatives Local goods Historical Preservation/downtown revitalization project
   

Committees

1. Volunteer
2. Membership
3. Marketing
4. Fundraising