Student - Warehouse Person (Food Security Distribution Centre)

This position is for 8 weeks at 35 hrs/week

Since 1975 The Mustard Seed Street Church has been essential in fighting hunger and restoring faith to our community in Greater Victoria. Our operations are nearly 100 percent community funded and include Vancouver Island's largest and most accessible Food Bank; daily meals, coffee, and snacks; Hospitality programs; and a Food Security Distribution Centre. We offer church services and community building faith-based programming, as well as pastoral care for those seeking a place to belong and grow spiritually. Through these core programs we assist over 5,000 people each month with the help of more than 50 daily volunteers and many generous financial supporters!

The Warehouse Person will support daily operations at The Mustard Seed’s Food Security Distribution Centre (FSDC), where rescued food is sorted, stored, and redistributed to community partners across Greater Victoria. This student position offers meaningful hands-on experience in warehouse logistics, inventory management, food safety, teamwork, and nonprofit operations. Working under close supervision, the youth will gain valuable employment skills while contributing to a program that reduces food waste and supports individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.

Shipping, Receiving, and Product Handling

• Assist staff with receiving donations from grocery stores, farms, and food producers.
• Help unload, weigh, label, and document incoming products following established procedures.
• Support the preparation of outgoing shipments for community partners, ensuring accuracy.
• Handle perishable and non-perishable items safely while learning proper food handling practices.

Warehouse Organization and Inventory Management

• Sort and organize food items by category, date, and storage requirements.
• Assist with stock rotation, expiry checks, and maintaining food safety standards.
• Enter basic inventory information into digital systems under staff supervision.
• Help keep cooler/freezer areas, shelves, and aisles tidy and accessible to ensure safe workflow.

Order Assembly and Distribution Support

• Prepare food orders for partner agencies with attention to quantity and quality.
• Follow packing guidelines to protect items during transport.
• Assist with staging completed orders and coordinating smooth pickup with community partners.

Volunteer Support and Team Collaboration

• Work alongside volunteers by offering simple instructions and positive support.
• Help orient volunteers to basic tasks such as sorting, packing, and organizing donations.
• Collaborate with warehouse staff to maintain consistent workflow and meet daily goals.

Workplace Safety, Sanitation, and Compliance

• Participate in training on WHMIS, safe lifting, food safety, and emergency procedures.
• Assist with cleaning tasks such as sweeping, sanitizing surfaces, and organizing equipment.
• Follow all safety protocols to help maintain a secure working environment for staff, volunteers, and partners.

Professional Development and Skill Building

• Participate in weekly check-ins with supervisors to review learning goals, progress, and questions.
• Observe food rescue operations, distribution logistics, and nonprofit supply chain processes.
• Contribute ideas for improving efficiency, safety, or volunteer coordination.
• Gain transferable skills in communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and workplace organization.

The Mustard Seed Street Church is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

These positions are mostly funded through the Canada Summer Jobs Program.

To be eligible, youth must:

• be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment;
• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment*; and,
• have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.

*International students are not eligible participants. International students include anyone who is temporarily in Canada for studies and who is not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada.