Internship Opportunities available for Spring, Summer and Fall in our award-winning volunteer program.
Founded in 1988 at the height of the AIDS epidemic, Food & Friends has always attracted talented, civic-minded professionals who have a passion for serving others. As a direct service agency at the intersection of public health and food insecurity, Food & Friends’ staff work alongside thousands of volunteers to fulfill our mission of providing medically tailored nutrition support to adults and children living with life-challenging illnesses. While each staff member has a specific professional role, anyone working at Food & Friends can find themselves helping out in the kitchen, grocery pantry, or delivery department. In return, Food & Friends is committed to fostering an environment where staff thrive, grow, achieve, and collaborate effectively in an impactful culture of success. Over the years, many of our staff have risen to senior leadership positions at Food & Friends and other nonprofit organizations throughout the country. In addition to competitive wages and an exceptional employee benefits package, Food & Friends offers a breadth of intangible rewards. Our cultural norms and time-honored traditions make Food & Friends an especially enjoyable place to work and contribute.
Values
As a direct service non-profit, we are a purpose-driven, inclusive, supportive team with a focus on making a lasting impact in the community. Our staff represents every cross-sector of our vibrant region, and our diversity is our greatest strength. At Food & Friends we live our values: accountability, compassion, community, dignity, diversity, excellence, and reliability. We are motivated by a spirit of service to our community and colleagues alike.
Commitment to wellbeing
Food & Friends is dedicated to fostering a healthy workplace culture, where everyone has what they need to be successful and feel supported. That begins with a healthy work-life balance. Food & Friends staff enjoy weekly short Fridays. For each of the first two years of employment, full-time staff receive three weeks of annual leave in addition to paid sick days. After two years, the amount of annual leave increases to four weeks. Our comprehensive benefits package provides staff with the support they need throughout the year. Food & Friends is proud of its warm and welcoming office space and grounds. Staff can take a quiet moment to sit in the garden or join a group of friends on the patio for lunch or an outdoor meeting.
Culture
Food & Friends was built on the simple premise: Anyone can get sick and everyone can help.
Food & Friends was founded during the AIDS epidemic to provide nourishment and companionship to our neighbors living with a deeply stigmatized illness. Our hiring, volunteer recruitment, and mission delivery are, and always have been, driven by compassion, community, dignity, diversity, excellence, reliability, and accountability.
Everyone is welcome. Each individual is valued. Our staff and volunteers represent a wide range of racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, cultural, educational, and professional backgrounds, in addition to physical and mental abilities. Their lifestyles, experiences, and interests enrich our culture. Their different skills, fresh perspectives, and abilities strengthen our mission.
Opportunity and inclusion are important. We offer meaningful employment that is both personally and professionally enriching. When filling open positions, we seek a broad pool of qualified applicants and, when possible, promote from within. We believe in continued learning. We expect leaders to be open-minded and encourage feedback and different ideas. Staff and volunteers are heard, recognized, and celebrated.
Equal Opportunity Employment
Food & Friends is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment and to complying with its legal obligations under federal and District of Columbia law. Food & Friends does not discriminate in any aspect of employment, including hiring, training, salary, benefits, promotions, discipline, termination, or any other personnel action on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, identity/expression, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, disability (including physical handicap), genetic characteristics, matriculation, political affiliation, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. Food & Friends adheres to the standard of selecting the best-qualified person for the position in the organization based on job-related skills, experience and knowledge.