Core Specialists At Work
Friday, April 28, 2017
By: Misty Robertson

The Houston Food Bank Core Specialist Program is up and running, utilizing skills based volunteers to fill departmental needs for specialized projects.

The Volunteer Services Department has been busy the past few months growing the Core Specialist Program. This program mobilizes skills based volunteers for use in all departments to work on projects tailored to their talents. The Core Specialist Program seeks to go beyond traditional food bank volunteer projects, focusing on the identification, recruitment, utilization and retention of a volunteer base that will advance the Houston Food Bank’s mission by donating their professional talents and specialized skillsets.

The Core Specialist Program began with a team of volunteers who were actively recruited and are serving as monitors for our Backpack Buddy distribution sites. Monitors work closely with the Agency Services Department to schedule and report on their findings at Backpack Distribution sites. 

Volunteer Services is also developing a database of volunteers with defined skill sets who are willing to dedicate their time and talents to the Houston Food Bank for upcoming Core Specialists projects. Potential Core Specialists are asked to complete a skills inquiry form with information about their personal and professional skills. This information will be organized within a structured catalogue that will allow the Houston Food Bank to complete and/or develop specialized projects by connecting to volunteers who have specific skills and experience. These projects will serve to introduce each Core Specialist to the issue of hunger and food insecurity in Houston and southeast Texas and the impact they will have through volunteering. Interested volunteers are invited to fill out our Core Specialist Skills Inquiry Form.

For more information contact Jennifer Frederic.