Kitchen Assistant

Position: Kitchen Assistant

Location: Alpena, MI

Employment Type: Part-time

The Kitchen Assistant plays a vital role in creating a warm, safe, and nourishing environment for our neighbors experiencing hunger, homelessness, and hardship. Working alongside the daily Lead Cook and volunteers, the Kitchen Assistant helps prepare daily meals, maintain kitchen operations, and uphold the Center of Charity’s mission of compassionate, trauma‑informed service. The position blends culinary skills with a heart for ministry, community, and dignity‑centered care.

• Assist in planning, preparing, and serving nutritious meals for daily service.
• Follow established recipes and food safety guidelines.
• Adapt menus based on donated food items and seasonal availability.
• Ensure meals are prepared with consistency, quality, and care.

• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe kitchen environment.
• Support dishwashing, sanitizing, and end‑of‑day cleaning routines.
• Assist with inventory management, including receiving, sorting, and storing donations.
• Monitor temperatures of hot holding equipment.

• Provide guidance and support to volunteers during meal prep and service.
• Model trauma‑informed hospitality and respectful communication.
• Help create a welcoming, encouraging environment for all who serve.

• Treat every guest with dignity, patience, and compassion.
• Support a calm, respectful dining atmosphere.
• Respond to guest needs with sensitivity and awareness of trauma‑informed practices.

• Follow all state and local food safety regulations.
• Maintain accurate logs for temperature checks, cleaning schedules, and food storage.
• Report maintenance or safety concerns promptly.

• Experience in food preparation, commercial kitchens, or culinary environments preferred.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced, high‑volume setting.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Commitment to the mission of the Center of Charity and its faith‑rooted values.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and stand for extended periods.
• Serv Safe certification (or willingness to obtain).

• Compassionate, patient, and grounded in a spirit of service.
• Flexible and resourceful—able to adapt to changing needs and donated ingredients.
• Respectful of all guests, volunteers, and staff, regardless of background or circumstance.
• Reliable, organized, and attentive to detail.

Every meal served at the Friendship Room is more than food; it is an act of love, stability, and human connection. The Kitchen Assistant helps ensure that our neighbors receive not only nourishment, but also dignity, warmth, and welcome. This role is essential to sustaining a ministry that feeds bodies, encourages hearts, and strengthens community.