Internship- Older Adult Care, Senior Program

Internship Job Description $16 per hour. On Site / Non Remote

Title :

Older Adult Center, Senior Program Intern

Location :

Community Kitchen & Pantry

252 West 116th Street, New York, NY 10026

Hours :

Operation hours - Monday - Friday (weekdays) 8 : 30 am 3 : 00 pm

Anticipated internship hours : 20-25 per week

Date of last revision :

6 / 25 / 24

Join a dynamic team that engages with and positively impacts some of New York City’s most vulnerable residents : older adults.

For over 40 years, Food Bank For New York City has been the city’s major hunger relief organization, providing food and programming that helps empower every New Yorker to achieve food security for good.

Food Bank harnesses the collective power of our network of food providers, partners and volunteers to activate the right resources, support and expertise across the five boroughs.

We work with 800+ food pantries, soup kitchens, schools, healthcare partners and other community-based organizations to connect communities in need to immediate and reliable access to food and nutrition education, while our economic empowerment programs give people the tools and know-how to improve their financial wellness.

We even operate our own food and programming location in Harlem our Community Kitchen & Pantry which also serves seniors as an Older Adult Center.

Food Bank For New York City’s Older Adult Center, funded by NYC Department for the Aging (DFTA), is an exciting program that serves older adults (60 years and older) from the heart of Harlem.

Services provided to our clients include meals, enrichment activities, and social services. This internship will present you with opportunities to grow your skills in community engagement, client support, public speaking, social service programming, event planning, and customer service.

Position Summary :

Working at Food Bank’s own Community Kitchen & Pantry in Harlem, the Senior Program Intern supports the engagement with senior participants in Food Bank’s Older Adult Center (OAC) funded by the NYC Department for the Aging (DFTA).

Food Bank’s senior program provides adults 60+ with education, recreation, fitness, community and weekday nutritious lunch free of charge.

Staff at OACs also help their members with resources and programs, like accessing benefits and entitlements, including Medicare / Medicaid, SCRIE, and SNAP.

OACs also keep members active and engaged through fitness and exercise programs and proven effective evidence-based classes.

Studies have shown that older adults report feeling healthier, more positive and less socially isolated after becoming members of an OAC.

OACs offer fun activities, in addition to classes that teach new skills and learning. Some of the classes and activities, you can see in our center include :

• Arts and crafts
• Fitness activities (chair exercises, tai chi, health workshops)
• Music and Theater Arts
• Technology and computer classes
• Dominos, Bingo and other games
• Recreational day trips
• Holiday and birthday celebrations
• Nutrition education
• Technical assistance with life needs (making appointments, etc.)

Supported by on-site staff, the Senior Program Intern will assist with multiple aspects of the Older Adult Center :

• Provide a high level of customer service to the older adult clients, including engagement with seniors one-on-one and in group settings, and supporting group activities or presentations (with potential to lead as appropriate)
• Assist with planning and implementation of special events
• Conduct outreach with community organizations and partners
• Assist with program participant intake procedures, including signing-in participants upon arrival, helping to screen new senior participants, and entering of data within program databases
• Provide general support for day-to-day operations
• Develop and lead workshops that will be presented to the older adult clients
• Assist with weekday lunch service

Skills (Required & Recommended) :

• Compassionate, patient, and sensitive to the needs of older adults
• Service-minded, and committed to helping vulnerable populations
• Basic computer skills : internet use, email (Outlook), Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), typing, data entry
• Strong communication skills verbally and in writing
• Exceptional listening skills
• Attention to detail; punctual
• Bilingual Spanish fluency is a plus

Internship Benefits :

• Develop experience working in a social service program at a major non-profit in New York City
• Build skills developing and delivering workshops to a participant audience
• Utilize your skill set in sharing impactful information with seniors
• Expand resume of sought-after non-profit skills
• Collaborate with a dynamic team
• Supplement undergraduate or graduate
30+ days ago