One of the duties of Second Harvest’s Agency Relations Department is to not only monitor but make sure our partner agencies are receiving everything they need from us.  Our Agency Relations team thought it would be a good idea to volunteer with our agencies to get a different perspective of how the agencies serve their clients in need.

The first Agency Relations Coordinator to volunteer and write about this experience is Paula Assal.

Read about her experience below:

On Wednesday, January 4, 2012, I volunteered during the distribution at Apostolic Church of Jesus/West Orange. One of agency relations goals is to provide better customer service and to nurture the agency partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank.  Our hope is that by volunteering at the agencies I will not only have a better understanding of the agency needs but we can assist the agencies in a capacity that staff members haven’t experienced yet. It is as much of a learning experience for me as it is for the agency.

My time at Apostolic was spent talking to Stephanie, the pantry coordinator, assisting clients with the intake process, and restocking shelves. The intake process is not an easy job as many clients are reluctant to give their name and address for the paperwork needed. Each client that came was so happy to be blessed with what Apostolic could offer them by means of food and clothing. Some of the clients had difficulty filling out the form but each had a smile on their face as they left with their food. Patience and understanding is a big part of helping clients complete the forms.

It felt so good seeing each client come in with anticipation on their face and relief when they left knowing that if nothing else their families were going to eat that night. Afterwards, I helped restock shelves and date food product, no easy task as food is very heavy and keeping in mind rotating the food. When it was all over we had served 29 families in two hours. What a blessing to the community!

I look forward to the upcoming months to volunteer at different pantries and have similar but different experiences. I am so excited to be a part of the pantry process.

Paula Assal
Agency Relations Coordinator

Job Opening: VP Agency Relations & Programs

Requirements for the application:
- No phone calls
- All letters, resumes to be fax or email to: vmarshall@foodbankcentralflorida.org
- Fax # 407-295-5299
- Cover letter and resume
- Deadline to submit application: 5/27/11

Job Description: Provides leadership, strategic direction and external relationship development for the areas of Agency Relations and Programs. Oversees and directs the activities that support and strengthen relationships with our partner agencies. Includes oversight of recruiting new agency partners and/or collaborators. This position directs the management of these programs: Kids Cafés, High Five, Summer Feeding, Benefits Connection, Nutrition and ADEPT.

This position requires a key working relationship with the C.O.O.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Develop strategic plan for Agency Relations and Programs.
2. Leadership of the team above to create, implement, execute and evaluate programs and initiatives.
3. Facilitate communication, integration, and understanding of all programs and staff, creating a mission of collaboration and a higher level of service to our partner agencies and the community
4. Oversee policies and procedures to support agency relations
5. Oversee the ADEPT program
6. Oversee program and agency monitoring (SHFB, KC, Hi-5, TEFAP and 2nd Helpings)
7. Ensure agencies meet and comply with food bank and program requirements
8. Supervise Agency Relations, Childhood Hunger programs, Benefits Connection and Nutrition initiatives to ensure goals and objectives of those departments are met. 
9. Monitor Advocacy efforts to ensure agencies have pertinent information at their disposal regarding legislation and community actions that directly impact them 
10. Ensure there are a sufficient number of agency partners to provide the required food assistance to meet or exceed Feeding America compliance levels
11. Identify and recommend new program and distribution opportunities to increase food distribution in underserved areas
12. Oversee Agency Orientation
13. Oversee publication of  Partner Agency newsletter
14. Identify and develop agency distribution channels
15. Develop and administer Agency Relations administrative policies and procedures
16. Oversee the agency related services performed by the Branches to ensure uniformity in standards
17. Ensure all Agency partners comply with Feeding America, SHFB, and other relevant sanctioning body’s operating guidelines, regulations and rules
18. As part of the senior management team, participates in the strategic planning process
19. Participate in the development and assessment of all Food Bank food assistance and service programs  
20. Work closely with Operations to ensure coordination and quality of services to agencies
21. Demonstrate clear understanding of Partner Agencies as customers by listening
22. Plan and coordinate Agency data collection
23. Recommend and direct necessary Agency related research
24. Represent the Food Bank at relevant community hunger events and social service groups
25. Resource for special projects, as requested

Job Specifications
1. Four year degree
2. Commitment to understanding and supporting SHFB’s mission; shows compassion and an appreciation for hunger issues.
3. Minimum of five years managerial experience.
4. Experience in developing programs/project management.
5. Proven success in leading and managing employees.
6. Excellent organization skills.
7. Detail oriented.
8. Proficient in Excel, Word, Power Point and Outlook.
9. Bi-lingual is a plus

Competencies
 • Leadership – Ensure that all Exempt and Non-Exempt staff understand the mission of the Food Bank and accomplish the mission in a manner that promotes Agency Relations, is cost effective, reflects a positive perception of the Food Bank and meets the needs of the internal Customers
• Strategizing Ability – Identifies a credible destination and indicates how to get there in a clear, straightforward, and simple way. Generates a clear vision of what the future could be like.
• Customer Focus – Ensure that Agency concerns are met and internal Customer issues are dealt with in a time appropriate manner
• Listening – Listen to Agency comments concerning their relationship with the Food bank and how we can improve the process to make it Agency friendly.
• Results Focus – Meet and exceed plan goals in regards to Agencies and Clients served and meet or exceed the financial budget while remaining cognizant of maintaining a positive perception of our organization to all outside stakeholders.  Meet Agency and Benefit Connections service goals.  Continually improve our training capability to help our Agencies meet their missions
• Communication – Maintain and improve relationships with Agencies, Federal, State, and Local governments and all departments within the Food Bank
• Problem Solving  – Be a resource to eliminate roadblocks to achieving success for Food Bank programs and assist Agency’s in overcoming obstacles to providing service to the community
• Creativity / Innovation – Continually look outside the envelope to provide more food / benefits to our Customers in a cost effective manner which help us to accomplish our mission

Working Conditions:
Office environment and travel

Disclaimer:
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification.  They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills of personnel so classified.

Requirements for the application:

- No phone calls
- All letters, resumes to be fax or email to: vmarshall@foodbankcentralflorida.org
- Fax # 407-295-5299
- Cover letter and resume
- Deadline to submit application: 5/27/11

Position Title: Director of Agency Relations and Programs
Deadline to submit resume: Friday, January 7, 2011
Fax resume to: 407-295-5299
Position Summary: Oversee and direct the activities that support and strengthen relationships with our partner agencies. Includes oversight of recruiting new agency partners and/or collaborators. THis position directs the management of these programs: Benefits Connection food stamp outreach, Kids Cafe, Hi-Five, ADEPT training, Summer Food Service Program, Nutrition.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

-Facilitate communication, integration and understanding of all programs and staff, creating a mission of collaboration and a higher level of service to our partner agencies and the community.
-Oversee policies and procedures to support our partner agencies.
-Oversee all training for internal and external audiences through the ADEPT program.
-Demonstrate clear understanding of partner agencies as customers by listening and responding to their needs.
-As part of the senior management team, develop a strategic plan for each program within your scope. Ensure goals within each program are met.
-Identify, develop and champion new programs and distribution opportunities to further the mission of fighting hunger in Central Florida.
-Monitor advocacy efforts to ensure agencies have pertinent information at their disposal regarding legislation and community actions that directly impact them.
-Ensure there are a sufficient number of partner agencies to provide the required food assistance to meet minimum needs in SHFOCFL service area.
-Oversee agency and program related services performed by our branches.
-Ensure all partner agencies comply with Feeding America, SHFBCFL, and other relevant sanctioning body’s operating guidelines, regulations and rules.
-Recommend and direct necessary hunger related research.
-Represent SHFBCFL at Feeding America conferences, relevant community hunger events and social service groups.
-Develop and manage a $1 million+ budget for your departments.
-Work with IT department to troubleshoot technology challenges with programs as they arise.
-Resource for special projects, as required.

 Job Specifications

-Four year degree.
-Minimum five years program management experience.
-Commitment to understanding and supporting SHFB’s mission; shows compassion and an appreciation for hunger issues.
-Experience in developing programs/project management
-Proven success in managing and motivating employees.
-Bi-lingual is a plus.
-Successfully pass pre-employment drug test screening, Level II Background Check and driving record check.
-Excellent organization skills.
-Computer and web application proficiency (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.)
-Detail oriented. 

Competencies
Leadership Ability
Use leadership skills to guide and help people become more self-sufficient, find their own solutions, and commit to their own decisions. Create high levels of trust and empathy with others by creating a warm climate in which people feel they can take reasonable risks in their work and feel appreciated for their efforts and results.

Coaching Ability
Use a variety of ways and means to help people become more critical of their performance so that they can set their own targets for improvement. Be firm and fair and keep the focus on solutions.

Communication
Highly conscious of the need to create an open and positive climate in which they can listen and gather feedback. An approachable individual who uses a range of communication methods to ensure that honest information flows freely in both directions.

Problem Solving 
Uses different ways of looking at problems or issues and uses a range of different tools of analysis. Generate several possible solutions and use evidence to evaluate the best one to provide the best possible course for future action.

Results Focus
Quickly distinguish between high value and low value effort and steer choices towards tangible results or outcomes that have real value to the organization even if it takes a little time and energy.

Strategizing Ability
Effectively evaluate courses of action and quickly engage in a range of ways to communicate and describe these paths efficiently. Identify milestones and measures of progress and be able to assess the effort needed to succeed.

Quality Focus
Always performs in a professional manner providing results that are on target. Quality vs. Quantity.

Creativity/Innovation
Continually look outside the envelope to provide more food/benefits to our customers in a cost effective manner which help us to accomplish our mission.                     

Working Conditions:

Office environment and travel

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification.  They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills of personnel so classified.

Every year, Second Harvest provides food to approximately 731,900 individuals through our partner agencies. I want to take a moment to profile one of our nearly 500 partner agencies: The Place of Comfort.

The Place of Comfort has four locations that serve Osceola, Orange, Lake and Seminole Counties.  I went to the Seminole County location to talk to them and see how their organization operates.

A large portion of their clients that are afflicted with HIV/AIDS.  The agency averages 2,000 total clients for all four counties served every month.  The Place of Comfort offers other services for the HIV/ AIDS clients along with food assistance, such as rent assistance, utility assistance and counseling.

For Thanksgiving, they distributed over 200 turkey baskets for people and families affected with HIV/AIDS.  The Place of Comfort works in collaboration to purchase the turkey baskets with one of our other Partner Agencies Joy MCC in Orlando.

For Christmas, The Place of Comfort conducted a toy drive at Regions Bank in Longwood.  The toy drive helped approximately 25 of their HIV/AIDS families and children.

If you are interested in learning more about Place of Comfort, please visit http://www.placeofcomfort.org/ 

Erin Gray
Agency Relations Manager

Last week we held our first ever Agency ADEPT Conference and we had it located in Volusia County at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, we had about 30 people in attendance. 

I thought I would give my perspective of the day.  There were 9 different classes offered by the staff at Second Harvest.  The classes I had taught were Perfect Pantry and Non Profit Ethics. 

I had about a dozen people in each class and we talked about how to run a pantry and what we look for when we are monitoring and when we accept new agencies.  In the ethics class we talked about general ethics and then I went over our Memorandum of Agreement (which is our contract for our partner agencies) to help them understand it and helped relate it to the topic of ethics.  

In addition to my classes we offered two nutrition courses and even a class on how our agencies can start their own blogs and Twitter accounts.

The entire day was a lot of fun and filled of so much energy with the staff members from Second Harvest and from the volunteers and staff from our Partner Agencies.  From talking to the different agencies and staff it seemed like it was a huge success and we look forward to bringing this concept to the different agencies that we work with in the different Counties in the future.  I was happy to be a part of the very first one that we had.

Erin Gray
Agency Relations Manager

I am posting a job description for an opening that we have at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, for Agency Relations Coordinator.  The position is 40 hours a week. Please submit your resume if you are interested in applying for the position to my email egray@foodbankcentralflorida.org.  Deadline for resumes/ applications will be January 6^th. 

Erin Gray
Agency Relations Manager

————————————————————————

Position Summary: 

Responsible for tasks related our recipient agencies including receipting, logging, recording data, conducting monitoring and site visits, and work on development and enhancement of agency programs.  This Coordinator will serve sub-distributors in Osceola, Orange, Lake, and Seminole counties.

Hours:  40 hours per week with benefits.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide customer service for, and act as liaison to all agencies in Osceola, Orange, Lake, and Seminole counties.
• Maintain all contracts and agreements for agencies.
• Conduct yearly monitoring and verify record keeping for all agencies.
• Conduct regular site visits to agencies programs
• Organize, coordinate all agency records and paperwork, and provide reports as requested.
• Help organize and launch other hunger awareness initiatives as assigned
• Generate reports and data on hunger in Central Florida.
• Perform administrative duties as assigned by supervisor
• Administer TEFAP monitoring and recordkeeping in accordance with the USDA contract.
• Cross Trained in Agency Relations to monitor all food bank agencies and programs as assigned.

 Job Specifications:

• Commitment to alleviating hunger
• Understanding of the USDA commodities program (TEFAP & ARRA)
• Bachelor’s Degree or Associate Degree or with equivalent experience
• Detail and task oriented with customer service skills.
• Good time management and organizational skills.
• Proficient in Excel, Microsoft Word, Excel and data entry
• Reliable Transportation and Valid Florida Driver’s License
• Ability to work evenings or weekends when necessary
• Pass pre-employment drug test
• Fluency in one or more of the following foreign languages preferred: Spanish, French, Creole

 Competencies:

•  Problem Solving - Uses different ways of looking at problems or issues and uses a range of different tools of   analysis. Generate  several possible solutions and use evidence to evaluate the best one to provide the best possible course for future action.
•  Agency Focus - Maintain an active interest in what is happening with our partner agencies and the external nonprofit world in general. Keep up to date with what is happening with the community and nationally with regard to hunger relief, and are aware of the shifting needs of different types of organizations.           
• Anticipation/Proactive Thinking - Take change in stride and commit a fair amount of time to thinking about the future and what could happen. Be engaged in information networking and personal learning in order to keep up to date and alert to significant changes in the normal routine. 
• Decision-Making Ability - Posses a strong awareness of what is high priority and that the majority of your time is spent achieving these results as they are important to the program and Second Harvest. 
• Time Management - Able to organize yourself and others to quickly accommodate any significant changes in their workload and re-prioritize them. 
• Communication - Highly conscious of the need to create an open and positive climate in which they can listen and gather feedback. An approachable individual who uses a range of communication methods to ensure that honest information flows freely in both directions.
• Attention to Detail - Highly conscious of the need for accuracy and completeness of your work and that of others. Proofreads and double-checks for omissions, errors and clarity. 
• Dependability - High personal commitment to being consistent and reliable in everything that they do. You tend to go above and beyond what is expected in order to meet a personal promise or commitment. 

Working Conditions: 

70% travel to agency locations: 30% office environment

Disclaimer: 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification.  They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills of personnel so classified.

At Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida we have more than 500 partner agencies and we serve 6 counties. As the Agency Relations Manager I am very fortunate that I get to work with and get to know our partner agencies that are located throughout Central Florida who help to end hunger.  One of those partner agencies that I work with and would like to spotlight is the Sharing Center.   

The Sharing Center is one of our partner feeding programs located in Seminole County. Their main distribution site is in Longwood, Florida. Their 40×60 sq ft pantry is able to provide over 2,000 bags of food a month to over 600 families.

The Sharing Center states that they have seen an increase in families that are coming to receive food from them this year compared to previous years. 

Michael Kenyon, the Director of Volunteer and Pantry Services at the Sharing Center, says “We shop every week in order receive nutritious and substantial food for our clients. Second Harvest is great benefit to us and our clients”. 

The Sharing Center is open Monday – Friday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. to help people in need.  If you want to volunteer or find out more information on the Sharing Center, please check out their Web site.

Erin Gray
Agency Relations Manager