Position: Food Access (Kitchen) Assistant
30 hours/week for 9 weeks
6 hours per day, usually Monday-Friday. This position REQUIRES a Class 5 drivers license.
Join the team at Nanaimo Foodshare and help make healthy food accessible, welcoming, and community-centered.
Are you passionate about food, community, and making a meaningful difference? We’re looking for an energetic, compassionate, and hands-on Kitchen Helper to support our food programs, and community events.
In this dynamic role, you’ll work alongside our Kitchen Manager and Foodshare team to help prepare, package, serve, and deliver healthy food throughout the community. From supporting large-scale produce distributions to creating fun nutrition resources and cooking content, no two days are the same.
This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working with people, staying active, and building valuable skills in community food programs, food preparation, logistics, and public engagement.
What You’ll Do
- Prepare, package, and distribute healthy meals and food items for community programs and events
- Support Nanaimo Foodshare’s popular Good Food Box program when needed, to helping provide affordable fresh produce to communities throughout Nanaimo, Parksville, Ladysmith and Gabriola Island.
- Help create newsletters, recipes, and engaging cooking or nutrition resources for the community
- Attend community events, to participate in community outreach and help promote Nanaimo Foodshare programs, and improved community food security.
- Work collaboratively with volunteers, participants, and community partners
- Support food activities that align with the Canada Food Guide, sustainability practices, and food safety standards
Who You’ll Support
This role helps improve food access for a wide range of community members, including:
- Families and seniors
- Newcomers to Canada
- People living with disabilities
- Youth, including 2SLGBTQI+ and Indigenous youth
What You’ll Gain
This position offers valuable hands-on experience in:
- Bulk food preparation and recipe planning
- Food costing and kitchen operations
- Community outreach and participant engagement
- Delivery coordination and logistics
- Teamwork, leadership, and collaboration
- Working within a supportive, community-focused non-profit environment
What We’re Looking For
- Friendly, reliable, and community-minded attitude
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
- Interest in healthy food, nutrition, and community development
- Strong communication and organizational skills
- Ability to lift and move food boxes and stay active throughout shifts
- A valid BC Driver’s License is required
- Kitchen experience is an asset.
If you love food, community connection, and meaningful work, we’d love to hear from you.
Please apply through this posting on the Indeed website. Thanks to all who apply. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 9 weeks
Pay: $18.50 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Discounted or free food
- On-site parking
- Store discount
Flexible language requirement:
Application question(s):
- How many years of food prep or kitchen experience do you have?
- Are you able to regularly lift 20kg?
Licence/Certification:
- Class 5 Licence (required)
- Food Safety Certification (required)
Location:
Work Location: In person
