The University of Georgia Office of Service-Learning is launching a new program for 2023-24, the AmeriCorps Community Food Fellows program, with funding from AmeriCorps State.
This initiative will support a cohort of up to 20 half-time AmeriCorps members who commit to provide 900 hours of service (beginning Sept. 1, 2023 through July 2024) with on-campus and off-campus partner organizations focused on food insecurity, food production, and food waste. The Community Food Fellows will meet regularly as a cohort to learn deeply about these issues and receive training and will also take part in group and individual service activities (such as garden planting and harvesting, food recovery, meal delivery, community education/outreach, to support organizations such as Campus Kitchen, UGArden, Concrete Jungle, Abundance Athens, Athens Community Council on Aging, and more.
Interested participants with a desire to learn and serve in this area – undergraduate students, graduate students, and community members – are invited to apply for this new program, with an anticipated start by the beginning of September. As AmeriCorps members, they receive a modest living allowance (up to $10,800 for the year of service, paid out monthly via UGA) and an end-of-service education award. Exact scheduling of service and of meetings will have some flexibility and will be organized once the cohort is selected, but applicants need to have availability for approximately half-time service through July 2024. This program has been submitted for approval for meeting UGA’s Experiential Learning graduation requirement.
Additionally, as part of this program, the cohort of Community Food Fellows will enhance their understanding of local food systems, food insecurity, food waste, and related community challenges through targeted training opportunities, networking with UGA and community experts, and direct service supporting food security and production, anti-hunger, and food waste reduction initiatives. Members will be able to provide leadership and gain experience in teamwork, volunteer management, supporting non-profits, and learn about potential career areas, among other outcomes. See the Program Overview PDF for more on the anticipated program structure.
Benefits provided to members include: modest living allowance ($10,800), loan forbearance, and a Segal Education Award (up to $3447) that may be used to pay educational costs at eligible post-secondary educational institutions as well as to repay qualified student loans. For more information on AmeriCorps Member benefits: https://www.americorps.gov/members-volunteers/your-benefits
Questions? Contact Dr. Paul Matthews, pmatthews@uga.edu or 706-542-0892.