Ready to turn your passion into a purpose-driven career? Blessings in a Backpack Southwest Florida is seeking a dynamic, motivated individual to join our team as a Fall Intern. This immersive, hands-on opportunity gives you a front-row seat to the inner workings of a high-impact non-profit organization. Working side-by-side with chapter leadership, you won’t be fetching coffee — you will actively gain marketable experience across essential operations, including donor stewardship, community engagement, volunteer coordination, and event logistics.

If you are looking to build a standout portfolio while making a tangible difference for children right here in our community, we want to hear from you.

Review the full job description and responsibilities below. To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter to Tony Ceresoli at tonyc@blessingsinabackpack.org with the subject line “Fall Internship Application – [Your Name]”.

Position Type: Internship (Part-Time, Fall Semester)

Location: Southwest Florida Chapter Office / Hybrid Options Available

Reports To: Tony Ceresoli, Managing Director

ABOUT BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK

Blessings in a Backpack is a distinguished national non-profit organization dedicated to preventing childhood hunger by providing food on the weekends for children who receive free or reduced-price school meals during the week. Across the United States, millions of children face food insecurity between Friday afternoon and Monday morning. Blessings in a Backpack steps in to close this nutritional gap, ensuring that students return to the classroom on Mondays nourished, ready to learn, and prepared to succeed. Operating through localized dedication, the Southwest Florida Chapter mobilizes communities, volunteers, and corporate partners to secure, pack, and distribute healthy, kid-friendly food items directly to elementary school students in need. By addressing hunger during critical developmental years, we foster improved school attendance, better academic performance, and healthier behavioral patterns among youth.

OUR MISSION

Blessings in a Backpack mobilizes communities, individuals, and resources to provide weekend good Friday-to-Monday nutrition for school-aged children who might otherwise go hungry. We believe that every child deserves access to a consistent food supply, and we are committed to empowering future generations by removing hunger as a barrier to health and education.

INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW

The Fall Internship offers an immersive, hands-on opportunity to experience the inner workings of a high-impact non-profit organization. Working closely with chapter leadership, the intern will touch multiple areas of non-profit operations, including donor stewardship, community engagement, volunteer coordination, event logistics, and administrative support. This role is ideal for individuals seeking careers in public relations, marketing, human services, public administration, or non-profit management.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Donor Stewardship & Relations: Assist chapter staff with vital donor recognition efforts, including making structured thank-you phone calls to supporters and drafting personalized written thank-you correspondence to reinforce community partnerships.
• Event Logistics & Operations: Actively assist in the coordination, setup, and execution of volunteer packing events, ensuring food items are organized and prepared efficiently for student distribution.
• Special Events Coordination: Provide vital operational support before, during, and after the chapter’s signature fundraising and community engagement special events as they are planned and executed throughout the fall term.
• Administrative & Office Support: Maintain chapter efficiency by assisting with essential office organization, information filing, database updates, and general administrative workflows.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS DESIRED

• Current enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate program (preferred fields include Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, Business Administration, Non-Profit Management, or related disciplines).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a comfortable and professional telephone manner for donor outreach.
• Excellent organizational skills and a keen attention to detail for handling office records and event logistics.
• A collaborative spirit and the ability to adapt dynamically in an active event or office environment.
• A deep passion for public service, community development, and addressing childhood nutrition issues.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates should submit a resume and a brief cover letter outlining their interest in the mission of Blessings in a Backpack, along with general weekly availability and any academic credit requirements, to:

Tony Ceresoli, Managing Director

Blessings in a Backpack — Southwest Florida Chapter

Email: tonyc@blessingsinabackpack.org