AmeriCorps Student Interns Help Toni’s Kitchen Address Hunger

Since 2020, Toni's Kitchen has been honored to welcome student interns from the AmeriCorps program at Montclair State University as volunteers. During the last five years, 27 students have logged more than 9,000 hours at Toni's. AmeriCorps is a federal agency for national service and volunteerism which provides opportunities to serve in local communities. At Toni's Kitchen, AmeriCorp interns have the opportunity to gain experience by volunteering in a number of areas, including the dining room, Choice Pantry, home delivery, the food truck, Toni's Closet and our Neghborhood Mobile Markets. After gaining experience, interns are able to take leaderhip roles by leading groups of volunteers in shifts throughout Toni's Kitchen. Interns receive an educational award and living stipend based on the hours they serve, which can help relieve student debt.

AmeriCorps programs also provide the students with training, networking and other events to prepare them for work in many fields after the graduate.

Interns appreciate the the chance to do meaningful work with their peers. Intern Dytisha Doremus says her work at Toni's Kitchen is "directing me on the path for what I want to do after college."

Thank you to all of the interns who have done such outstanding work at Toni's Kitchen as part of this great program!