AmeriCorps VISTA Program - Arizona Food Bank Network

Four years ago, the Arizona Food Bank Network was selected by the Corporation for National and Community Service as a project sponsor for three AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) positions.

AmeriCorps VISTA members are highly trained, and work on sustainable solutions to eradicate poverty in the communities where they work. VISTA Volunteers serve one year, and work full-time at their host sites.

The goal of participating VISTA members hosted by AzFBN is to contribute toward fighting hunger by performing activities such as bolstering sustainable local food systems, improving food pantries’ organizational capacity and sustainability, expanding community engagement, and increasing the amount of emergency food distributed.

While VISTAs employ their current skills to eradicate hunger, they also enhance their knowledge and develop skills in positions that include volunteer engagement, digital marketing, urban farming, sustainability training, storytelling, outreach to older adults, tribal food sovereignty, youth empowerment, food systems solutions, and much more.

The AzFBN VISTA Roadmap

Award first granted by CNCS for 3 VISTAs in 2017

*AzFBN AmeriCorps VISTA Program becomes part of the Food Security Initiative. More below!

Projects for current VISTAs vary from working to help rural communities of Native American populations to inspiring urban families to garden in the heat of Phoenix. Other work will establish better communication and prevention programs aimed at ensuring people do not need a food bank to be food secure. From a volunteer working literally in the Grand Canyon to a project in the heart of downtown Phoenix — the diversity of the AzFBN AmeriCorps VISTA program is inspiring!

AzFBN Joins The Food Security Initiative (FSI)

The Food Security Initiative (FSI) is a national project that seeks to improve sustainable food access in under-resourced communities allowing AzFBN to benefit approximately thirty hunger-fighting organizations, each impacting thousands of their clients. The VISTA program, aided by the American Rescue Plan launched the FSI to be implemented by current sponsors, such as AzFBN to deepen current hunger relief efforts.

The VISTA program, aided by American Rescue Plan, launched the Food Security Initiative (FSI) in 2020 to bolster the impact of hunger relief projects currently carried out by AmeriCorps VISTA sponsors, like AzFBN. As part of the initiative, we were able to expand our VISTA positions and add more host sites in need of support. That is why you will notice substantial growth, from 13 to 33 positions in 2022.

For us, that means, more ways that we can support our anti-hunger partners all while fostering the growth of the next generation of hunger-fighting allies.

For more information or questions about the AmeriCorps VISTA program or the Food Security Initiative email us at [email protected]. You can look up current AmeriCorps VISTA opportunities here.