The Northeast Bronx Community Farmers Market Project is celebrating its fifth anniversary with the introduction of an Intern & Mentoring Program. Positions will involve work that combines leadership, team building, community outreach and entrepreneurial skills. Twenty internships will be offered at organization-run projects in the Throggs Neck and Wakefield neighborhoods of the Bronx, and include volunteering at a local food pantry; assisting at local farmers markets; working on community health projects; developing social media and marketing content; creating a plan for a small business; and assisting with propagation and plant management at local community gardens.
Beginning March 7, applications will be accepted. Applicants must be high school or college students to be eligible. Applicants will be required to submit a 500-word essay describing which internships they are interested in and why they want to participate in this program. Essays are due on March 31 and selections will be announced on April 7.
Four interns at the Market at Preston will be required to attend 12 market sessions for a total of 48 hours of internship. Market interns will help with set up when vendors arrive. During the market they will assist produce vendors with sales, handle the customer service table to assist customers with EBT/SNAP benefits, free produce for seniors, help with cooking demos and other outreach issues.
Four interns with Urban Cultivated will work at two sites in Wakefield. Each intern will be required to participate in 48 hours of internship on a flexible schedule. Interns will learn to plant, nurture and harvest at our urban farm to table gardens, including the Bronx Hot Sauce Project growing areas. They will participate in the weekly activities of running a local farmers’ market, and also have an opportunity to assist gardening veterans.
Four interns at the Food Pantry at St Benedict’s Church will be required to attend 12 distributions for a total of 36 hours of internship. Pantry interns will help with sorting and setting up produce for distributions, as well as assist volunteers with tent and table set up. During the distribution, interns will participate in customer service and community outreach and assisting clients. Interns with bilingual skills are especially needed.
Two community health interns will assist market managers and the community outreach coordinator with inviting community organizations to participate at our markets. They will also participate in tabling at local community events/sites to promote the organization’s various community health-related programs. They will be required to perform 36 hours of service each on a flexible schedule.
Two journalism/social media interns will work with all program coordinators under the supervision of the marketing manager. They will be responsible for creating content related to programming for promotional and marketing use. They will be required to perform 36 hours of service each.
Four Young Entrepreneur Interns – will work with the Vendor Coordinator & Marketing Manager, who will help them develop their business plan with the ultimate goal of growing food or creating a food related product. Upon successful product development, interns will be given free space to promote at the markets supported by the organization.
The Northeast Bronx Community Farmers Market Project Inc. is a Section 501(c)3 nonprofit and your donation will qualify as a charitable deduction for federal income tax purposes as allowable by law.
