Clothing Pantry Attendant
Type: Full Time
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Schedule: Primarily Monday–Friday with flexibility for donor drop-offs, events, and seasonal needs
Reports To: Community Connections Manager
Location: Community Connections – Albany, NY
Position Summary
The Clothing Pantry Attendant plays an essential role in ensuring dignity, choice, and access for guests and community members seeking clothing, hygiene products, and basic household essentials. This position oversees the operations of the Clothing Pantry, maintains a supportive, organized, and respectful environment, coordinates donations and volunteers, and ensures guests receive person-centered assistance. The Attendant contributes to a trauma-informed, welcoming space that reinforces IPHNY’s mission of dignity, empowerment, and stability.
Key Responsibilities:
Guest Services & Engagement
- Foster an emotionally and physically safe, welcoming, and respectful environment.
- Provide supportive assistance to guests in locating items, navigating the pantry, and accessing related IPHNY services.
- Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality in all interactions.
- Collaborate with Community Connections staff to ensure coordinated guest services and resource connections.
- Refer guests to Guest Support Specialist or Case Manager when additional support is needed.
Volunteer Coordination & Support
- Recruit, orient, and train new volunteers.
- Create and maintain volunteer schedules to ensure consistent pantry coverage.
- Provide coaching, supervision, and ongoing support for volunteer teams.
- Ensure volunteers and staff have required protective equipment when handling donations.
Donation & Inventory Management
- Serve as primary point of contact for donors; respond to inquiries and coordinate drop-offs.
- Process donations, including receiving, sorting, cleaning/drying, organizing, and storing items.
- Utilize UniteUs to manage service coordination and referrals for clothing-related needs.
- Maintain organized storage and sorting spaces, removing unusable items and identifying inventory needs.
- Track supply levels and communicate shortages proactively.
Pantry Operations & Oversight
- Maintain an orderly, sanitary, and accessible pantry environment.
- Ensure items are appropriately stocked, organized, and displayed based on guest needs.
- Monitor guest capacity and safety guidelines.
- Maintain sign-in sheets and records of items distributed.
- Communicate operational needs and guest feedback to leadership.
- Support building upkeep including sweeping, mopping, laundry, trash removal, and workspace cleanliness.
Documentation & Data
- Accurately document services provided through HMIS including intakes, progress notes, milestones, and discharges.
- Complete incident reports and related documentation before the end of each shift.
- Track data for reporting and program monitoring purposes.
Professional Development & Collaboration
- Participate in all required training including First Aid, CPR, and Naloxone (Narcan).
- Attend regular supervision and staff meetings.
- Serve on agency committees as requested to support continuous improvement.
Qualifications:
Required
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Compassion and ability to work effectively with individuals experiencing homelessness, trauma, and crisis
- Ability to lift, carry, and move large or bulky items
- Reliable attendance and transportation
- Ability to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality
Preferred
- Experience in human services or comparable customer service setting
- Experience working directly with volunteers or community donors
- Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office and data entry
Trainable
- HMIS documentation and reporting
- Donation intake processes and sorting systems
- De-escalation and trauma-informed care techniques
- UniteUs platform and related coordination tools
Work Environment
- Fast-paced, guest-facing environment requiring flexibility and problem solving
- Frequent standing, bending, lifting, and reaching, including moving bags and large items
- Indoor and occasional outdoor work required
- Exposure to cleaning agents and PPE usage in handling donated materials
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $20.00 per hour
Expected hours: 37.5 per week
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Vision insurance
Ability to Commute:
- Albany, NY 12210 (Required)
Work Location: In person
