***VIRTUAL PROJECT*** Complete at your convenience/schedule More than 37 million people struggle with hunger in this country on an average day and due to the health crisis this number may only grow. In this rapidly changing environment many food operations have been adjusted and redirected; pantries and kitchens have had to change their distribution methods, emergency food delivery for home bound seniors has increased, restaurants are providing meals to hungry kids, stores have special hours for at risk populations. Hunger Free America is building a national database of food access resources (food banks, soup pantries, WIC/SNAP offices, etc.). Our goal for the database is to be the most comprehensive collection of food resources in the country and to substantially increase visibility and accessibility of resources to individuals who need them. For this service project you will be helping HFA’s data team with our national database by ensuring the accuracy of existing WIC/SNAP office listings. The crowdsourced information such as details on where food, supplies, and volunteers are needed most will be routed to the appropriate partners, and the site statuses will be freely available to the public, as well as help the national USDA Hunger Hotline connect callers to the most up-to-date resources. Click here to see our data in map format please visit this. Key Responsibilities: Volunteer responsibilities would include verifying and ensuring that all data is accurate in order to launch a comprehensive collection of sites’ information. Volunteers are able to conduct this research remotely and will verify and/or identify resources through a variety of methods, including directly contacting sites and using social media channels. Verification can be done by confirming listed hours of operation either on the pantry website or over the phone. The volunteer will then create a listing of verified sites. Qualifications: Comfortable in conducting online search and talking on the phone. Training/Support Provided: Volunteers will receive the support of HFA to provide guidance and training on the data and gathering process. A supervisor will be available to provide any assistance necessary. Please feel free to reach out with any immediate questions to: volunteer@hungerfreeamerica.org If you are new to the COVID-19 Food Assistance Project, you must attend a Project Orientation to learn how to conduct this volunteer work.