University of Montana ASUM Bear Necessities
Position Type: AmeriCorps State
Service Commitment: September 2, 2026 – July 16, 2027
Final Application Deadline: August 20, 2026
Car required? Recommended
Driver’s License Required? Yes
Position Summary:
The University of Montana, based in Missoula, MT, transforms lives by providing a high-quality and accessible education and by generating world-class research and creative scholarship in an exceptional place. ASUM Bear Necessities is the University of Montana’s dedicated basic needs support office for students. ASUM Bear Necessities operates the UM Food Pantry, founded in 2019 to provide free food resources to students in need.
The goal of this project is to increase overall increase capacity and improve programming for the UM Food Pantry including data collection and analysis, elevate outreach to students to increase student awareness of the Food Pantry and associated services at ASUM Bear Necessities, increase student knowledge of and access to SNAP, improve connections between main campus food pantry and satellite pantries at Missoula College and West Campus.
The AmeriCorps member will spend their days leading the day-to-day operations of the University of Montana Food Pantry by organizing inventory, stocking shelves, and coordinating food orders and deliveries with the Missoula Food Bank, PEAS Farm, and UC Gardens. They will engage directly with students who visit the pantry, welcoming new customers, completing their intake, and connecting them with additional campus resources as needed. When students need more support than the pantry can provide, the member will refer them to ASUM Bear Necessities to make sure no one leaves without help. The member will take ownership of the satellite pantry locations at Missoula College and West Campus, placing monthly orders and making sure both sites are well stocked and high functioning. They will lead a team of volunteers and staff to collect and package food donated through the Catering Cupboard program, keeping a close eye on what is available and making sure food is distributed before it goes to waste. Outside of the pantry, the member will serve as an ambassador for the Food Pantry at campus events such as the Bear Fair, Welcome Feast, and Resource Fair, building awareness and relationships with the broader student community. They will mobilize student groups and volunteers to organize food drives and other collection efforts, and will take a leadership role on the Can the Cats planning committee. Throughout their service, the member will drive improvements in how the pantry collects and records information about the students it serves, making updates that help the pantry better understand who it is reaching and how to serve them well.
Montana Campus Network for Civic Engagement (MCNCE) serves as the intermediary for this project. MCNCE is a coalition of colleges and universities dedicated to fostering civic engagement, service learning, and volunteerism across Montana. Led by CEOs from participating institutions, MCNCE works to improve community life and educate students on civic and social responsibility, preparing them to be thoughtful, compassionate, and engaged leaders..
Benefits Include:
- $21,680 Living Allowance (11 Months) = $963.55 bi-weekly
- $7,395 Education Award
- Relocation Allowance
- Health Insurance
- Food assistance
- Trainings available through UM Office of Sustainability
- Personal & Medical Leave
- Eligible for Federal Loan Deferment
- University of Montana access & resources
- Access to regular professional trainings through MCNCE & University of Montana & National/Statewide partners
Professional Skills You Will Gain
- Relationship building with diverse student populations
- Peer support and active listening
- Food pantry/resource center operations
- SNAP training
- Hands on sustainability experience
- Event planning and coordination
- Workshop facilitations
- Volunteer management and engagement
- Leadership development
- Campus and community partnership development
- Regularly leading service opportunities for students
- Civic reflection training and facilitation
- Taking ownership of projects
- and many more…