Cumberland County Food Security Council

Cumberland County Food Security Council is seeking 3 School Nutrition Service Members for the 2024-2025 term. 

Greater Portland, Maine is bounded by a dramatic ocean and thriving farms, all sources of nourishing food for our communities. We have diverse student populations with more than 70 languages spoken in our three partner school districts of Portland, South Portland and Westbrook.

The FoodCorps member will serve with Cumberland County Food Security Council. Our mission is to increase food access for vulnerable people in our county by working together to initiate, strategize and innovate solutions to hunger by advocating, sharing information and resources, and taking collective action. Our focus is to address the root causes of hunger and poverty. We have developed the Food Fuels Learning model in partnership with Portland Public Schools taking a whole school food system approach to building nutrition security. Service members, as part of our team, will develop initiatives to increase participation in school meals. Strategies include working with school nutrition departments and other staff in culturally important menu development and supporting the implementation of more halal meals. Fun activities include promoting taste tests, identifying best practices and engaging students and parents in focus groups and celebrations of local food.

When you serve in Maine, you are joining a family of 11 Service members serving all across the state. We connect both virtually and in person, spend time together and learn, and enjoy all the natural beauty and excellent food culture Maine has to offer. No matter where you are, you have the support of the cohort and FoodCorps Maine staff, Malia and Ryan, who both grew up in Maine and love sharing all that is great about this state with service members who we hope will continue to be an important part of Maine even after service.