SHIFT LEADERS
Role Overview
What They Do: Shift Leaders lead one of Campus Kitchen's food recovery, cooking, or delivery operations shifts for an academic semester. Some guide volunteers to sort donations and prepare meals, while others serve in the community delivering meals and groceries. All of them gain leadership and service experience while making a positive impact in the Athens food system and the lives of food-insecure Athenians.
Who They Are: Shift Leader roles are open to all UGA undergraduate and graduate students. They are dependable and detail-oriented. You don't have to enjoy cooking, but you should enjoy people or food!
Time Commitment: Shift Leader roles require a weekly 1 to 3.5 hour commitment, depending on the position. All Shift Leaders are required to attend training night at the beginning of the semester before shifts start. Many positions require up to 1 hour of online pre-training prior to training night.
Benefits: Besides leaving an unquestionably positive impact, and meeting like-minded people (and in many cases, different-minded people!) here are some other benefits to serving as a Shift Leader:
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Shift Leader positions are non-credit "Service" UGA Experiential Learning opportunities.
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Shift Leaders are given priority for Campus Kitchen internships, practicums and research projects.
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Functional knowledge of food for culinary and recovery shifts (you will learn things).
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Gas certificate for driving shifts ($20 or $10 depending on position).

Spring 2023 Shift Leader Applications are now live! Apply here by November 18th or Email Us at CKUGA@UGA.EDU to get more information.
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Different shifts and times to chose from
62
Shift Leader positions available
100
Hours given by all Shift Leaders every week (2.5 FTE)
Specific Position Descriptions
Please review the detailed position descriptions when considering your preference selections. Note that several shifts are reserved for those with prior experience as a Shift Leader.
Specific Position Requirements:
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Cooking and Value-Added Processing applicants must have volunteered at the shift they are applying for. If you are in need of the volunteer experience and are not able to find an open volunteer spot online, please email ckuga@uga.edu with dates you are available to volunteer at a shift.
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Cooking, Value-Added Processing, and Meal Planning applicants must be willing to complete free food safety training prior to their start date in lieu of formal food service experience.
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Delivery, Agency Donations, Food Collection, Collective Harvest, and UGArden applicants must pass a background check.
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Must be COVID conscious and practice social distancing in their every day lives.
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Food Processing Shift Leader
Food Processing Leaders work in teams to lead volunteers to process excess produce. Shift Leaders follow a pre-determined plan for the day where they may help our partners at Concrete Jungle sort and bundle produce. Shift Leaders setup and clean up work stations, guide volunteers to handle food safely, and store produce and other foods.
Food Processing Shift Leaders are detail-oriented and punctual. They have a passion for food systems and/or older adult issues, and are willing to take initiative and work in teams to ensure a successful shift.
This role is open to those who have shadowed or participated in a Campus Kitchen shift.
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Alternate Shift Leaders
Shift Leaders sometimes have competing obligations, illness, or could need a temporary substitute, and sometimes no active Shift Leader is available to switch with them. Alternate Shift Leaders are on-call to jump into Shift Leader vacancies that fit their schedule.
Alternate Shift Leaders are former active Shift Leaders looking for a way to stay involved with Campus Kitchen, but can’t quite commit to a weekly shift. For team shifts, they are willing to defer to the leadership of active Shift Leaders when appropriate.
This role is open to those with prior experience as a Campus Kitchen Shift Leader.
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Delivery Shift Leader
Delivery Shift Leaders deliver meals and groceries prepared by Campus Kitchen to older adult-headed homes. Drivers load their cars with meals and groceries prepared for their route, follow a printed route sheet with directions to 3-6 client homes, and then return equipment to UGArden.
Delivery Shift Leaders are compassionate and reliable. They are willing to work independently, and they respond to the unexpected with grace. While you don’t need to be an extrovert or conversationalist to enjoy this role, expect to be challenged to build relationships with people different than you!
This role is open to all applicants.
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Collective Harvest Shift Leader
The Collective Harvest Shift Leader drives to the Collective Harvest building, transport donations to UGArden, unload food, and records the weight of the donation. For more information on Collective Harvest, visit https://www.collectiveharvestathens.com/.
The Collective Harvest Shift Leader is detail-oriented and reliable. They are willing to work independently. While this role has a relatively low time commitment, you’re making a huge impact in the Athens community!
This role is open to those with prior experience as a Campus Kitchen Shift Leader.
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Cooking Shift Leader
Cooking Shift Leaders work in teams of three to lead volunteers in a commercial kitchen setting to prepare family meal kits and grocery bags. Shift Leaders follow a pre-determined meal plan and packing list, set up and clean up kitchen work stations, guide volunteers to prepare food safely (and have fun doing it!), and store prepared foods for next-day delivery.
Cooking Shift Leaders are detail-oriented and punctual. They are willing to provide direction and encouragement to others; this includes coaching basic cooking techniques, and enjoying (or at least tolerating) the creativity of the cooking process.
This role is open to all applicants.
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Food Collection Shift Leaders
Food Collection Shift Leaders work in teams to lead volunteers to transport and sort surplus food donations from Trader Joe’s. Shift Leaders pick up volunteers on campus, drive to Trader Joe’s, transport donations to UGArden, unload food, monitor time and temperature of donated foods, and inventory food for future shifts and quality.
Food Collection Shift Leaders are detail-oriented and reliable. They are willing to provide direction and encouragement to others; this includes coaching volunteers on quality standards and being okay with several processes happening simultaneously.
This role is open to all applicants.
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Agency Donations Shift Leader
Agency Donation Shift Leaders deliver groceries recovered by Campus Kitchen to human service organizations in Athens-Clarke County. Drivers load their cars with groceries for their route, and deliver to 2-3 agencies (shelters, service providers, etc.).
Agency Donation Shift Leaders are compassionate and reliable. They are willing to work independently, and they respond to the unexpected with grace. While this role has a relatively low time commitment, you’re making a huge impact in the Athens community.
This role is open to those with prior experience as a Campus Kitchen Shift Leader.
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Make-Up Delivery Shift Leader
Make-Up Delivery Shift Leaders deliver to clients who occasionally miss their regular Campus Kitchen delivery. Unclaimed deliveries are delivered by this Shift Leader to nonprofit agencies. Shift Leaders are provided instructions the day of their shift on the client and agencies they’ll be serving that day.
Make-Up Delivery Shift Leaders are compassionate and reliable. They are willing to work independently, and they respond to the unexpected with grace, and are comfortable with variety during their shift from week to week.
This role is open to those who have prior experience as a Campus Kitchen Delivery or Agency Donation Shift Leader. This is not an Alternate Shift Leader role.
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UGArden Shift Leader
UGArden Shift Leaders assist with the produce harvest of the UGArden Student Community Farm for Campus Kitchen and transport the donations to Talmage Terrace. Shift Leaders distribute produce into client grocery bags at Talmage Terrace. For more information on UGArden, visit https://ugarden.uga.edu/.
UGArden Shift Leaders are reliable and detail-oriented. They are willing to work independently, and they respond to the unexpected with grace and discretion. While you don’t need to be a gardener to enjoy this role, expect to learn more about local produce!
This role is open to those with prior experience as a Campus Kitchen Shift Leader.
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Value-Added Processing Shift Leader
VAP Shift Leaders work in teams of three to lead volunteers in a commercial kitchen setting to prepare supplemental foods for Campus Kitchen clients or Athens nonprofits. Shift Leaders follow a pre-determined meal plan for soups, side dishes, or preserving items for future use, such as blanching or creating soup stock. Shift Leaders set up and clean up kitchen work stations, guide volunteers to prepare food safely (and have fun doing it!), and store prepared foods properly.
VAP Shift Leaders are detail-oriented and punctual. They are willing to provide direction and encouragement to others; this includes coaching basic to intermediate cooking techniques, improvising, and enjoying (or at least tolerating) the creativity of the cooking process.
This role is open to all applicants.
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Meal Planning Shift Leader
Meal Planning Shift Leaders work with a Food Operations intern in teams of three to evaluate food donations for quality and determine the food’s destination for Campus Kitchen clients and nonprofit agencies. Shift Leaders create and write out recipes for cooking and VAP shifts, weigh donations to nonprofit agencies, and manage food inventory.
Meal Planning Shift Leaders are the quarterbacks of the Campus Kitchen operation. They are willing to embrace complex challenges and exercise problem-solving skills in a team setting. They take initiate and are detail-oriented, and they enjoy (or at least tolerate) the cooking process.
This role is open to those with prior experience as a Campus Kitchen Shift Leader.