Grocery Rescue Assistant

Founded in 1993, the MSU Food Bank was the first student-run collegiate food pantry in the nation. Today, the MSU Food Bank & Basic Needs Program supports the health, wellbeing, and academic success of Spartans by increasing access to nutritious food and essential resources.

The Grocery Rescue Assistant plays a vital role in reducing food waste while expanding access to fresh, nutritious food for the MSU community. Student employees in this position safely collect donated food from community and campus partners, transport donations using university vehicles, and ensure food is handled, documented, and stored according to food safety standards. Grocery Rescue Assistants represent the program’s values of compassion, collaboration, integrity, and care for all Spartans while serving as ambassadors to community partners.

• Safely operate university vehicles to collect food donations from Greater Lansing Food Bank, local grocery stores, campus and community partners.
• Load, secure, transport, and unload food donations using safe lifting and transportation practices.
• Represent the MSU Food Bank & Basic Needs Program professionally while interacting with community partners and donors.

• Inspect donated food for quality and food safety.
• Record temperatures and maintain cold chain requirements throughout transportation and storage.
• Sort, organize, and store donations according to food safety standards and program procedures.
• Accurately record grocery rescue pickups, weights, and inventory using Meal Connect and other program tracking systems.
• Report damaged, unsafe, or unusable products to supervisors.

• Assist with stocking shelves, organizing storage areas, and maintaining a clean, safe, and welcoming pantry environment.
• Support food distributions, inventory projects, and other operational needs as assigned.
• Follow all university, departmental, and food safety policies and procedures.
• Communicate schedule changes, transportation issues, or operational concerns promptly with supervisors.

• Arrive prepared and on time for scheduled shifts.
• Work collaboratively with student employees, volunteers, staff, and community partners.
• Demonstrate professionalism, reliability, and respectful communication.
• Participate in required trainings, meetings, and professional development opportunities.
• Contribute to an inclusive, welcoming, and trauma-informed environment for all participants, volunteers, and staff.

• Current MSU student in good academic standing.
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.
• Ability to pass the MSU Safe Driver Check and operate a university vehicle.
• Ability to lift, carry, and move up to 50 pounds repeatedly.
• Ability to safely work in indoor and outdoor environments during varying weather conditions.
• Strong organizational, communication, and time management skills.
• Dependable, punctual, and able to work independently after training.
• Willingness to complete Safe Food Handling certification (training provided).

• Experience driving larger vehicles or transporting goods.
• Knowledge of food safety practices or Serv Safe® certification.
• Familiarity with food insecurity, basic needs programs, or community food systems.
• Availability during university breaks, including spring, summer, and winter.

Current grocery rescue shifts are available:

• Tuesday–Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
• Preference will be given to applicants who can work 10-15 hours per week
  , including winter, spring, and summer breaks
  .
• Some evening, weekend, and delivery availability may be required.
• Applicants must be available for a minimum of two scheduled shifts per week.

This position requires frequent standing, walking, bending, reaching, lifting, carrying, and loading food donations weighing up to 50 pounds. Employees must be able to safely enter and exit university vehicles, transport food using carts and hand trucks, and work in refrigerated storage areas as needed. Employees may work in refrigerated or freezer storage areas and should be comfortable performing repetitive physical tasks throughout their shifts.

Working with the MSU Food Bank & Basic Needs Program provides students with opportunities to develop leadership, logistics, food safety, customer service, teamwork, and community engagement skills while making a meaningful impact on the health and wellbeing of fellow Spartans. Grocery Rescue Assistants help divert thousands of pounds of nutritious food from the waste stream each year, increasing equitable access to food while supporting environmental sustainability and student success.