Full Circle Food Pantry Sustainability VISTA Y1

The Full Circle Food Pantry Sustainability VISTA Y1 position at AmeriCorps in Arkansas focuses on increasing the pantry's visibility and accessibility for the University of Arkansas community. The VISTA member will build partnerships, develop marketing strategies, organize presentations, and enhance pantry operations to address food insecurity. This role includes community engagement and collaboration with local initiatives, aiming to support vulnerable populations and improve pantry services.
The Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry typically serves around 400 visits per month from University of Arkansas students, faculty, and staff. Given our student population of 30,000, we know we are not serving everyone who is experiencing food insecurity in our university community, but with a VISTA Service Member's support, we hope to expand our reach and meet more needs. This VISTA project focuses on raising the pantry's visibility to ensure that our most vulnerable community members have equitable access to this resource. The VISTA will build strong partnerships with on-campus departments to inform marketing strategies that promote the pantry. This will include classroom presentations, event organizing, and the promotion of pantry resources through campus-wide communications. By increasing visibility and fostering partnerships, we hope community members will feel more comfortable utilizing the pantry’s services. Additionally, through the VISTA’s community engagement, there is potential to implement adjustments in pantry services or operations. As partnerships develop, new collaborative opportunities related to this shared goal may emerge, and the VISTA will coordinate efforts to implement them. Beyond campus collaborations, the VISTA will have the chance to represent the Full Circle Food Pantry in collaborations with the broader Northwest Arkansas community on initiatives aimed at reducing food insecurity. The VISTA will also support internal pantry operations by developing onboarding practices for students overseeing pantry operations. This could include creating professional development opportunities, online course modules, or other strategies to enhance student leader capacity earlier in the semester.

Member Duties : The VISTA Service Member will focus on increasing the visibility of the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry to better serve the University of Arkansas community by addressing food insecurity by building partnerships with campus departments, the VISTA will develop marketing strategies, organize presentations, and promote pantry resources across the university. This effort aims to expand reach, engage more students, faculty, and staff, and enhance accessibility for vulnerable community members. The VISTA will also gather feedback to improve pantry services, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of users. Additionally, the VISTA will work on strengthening volunteer capacity by developing online module-based onboarding processes for student leaders. Through collaboration with the broader Northwest Arkansas community, the VISTA will help reduce food insecurity and increase awareness, ensuring the pantry has the resources and support to sustain its mission.

Program Benefits : Relocation Allowance , Health Coverage* , Living Allowance , Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend , Childcare assistance if eligible , Training .

Terms :
Car recommended , Permits attendance at school during off hours , Permits working at another job during off hours .

Service Areas :
Hunger , Education , Community Outreach .

Skills :
Public Speaking , Writing/Editing , Communications , Teaching/Tutoring , Public Health , Team Work , Community Organization , Education .

SUMMARY

Program Type:

AmeriCorps VISTA

Program

Full Circle Food Pantry Sustainability VISTA Y1

Program Start/End Date

07/14/2025 - 07/13/2026

Work Schedule

Full Time

Education level

College graduate

Age Requirement

Minimum: 18 Maximum: None

Program Locations

ARKANSAS

Languages

Spanish preferred

English

Accepting Applications

From 04/03/2025 To 06/11/2025

Contact

Delaney Farris-Dyer

435 N Garland Ave

Fayetteville AR 72701

479-575-4179

dgfarris@uark.edu

Listing ID

126232