Mennonite
Central
Committee

Canner Operator

Working on the canner is a tangible way to serve the church. MCC Canners who have done this say that it's really fun to travel and work with many different church groups. Men who serve the church as canners also serve people around the world, providing meat to those who need food. If you take the challenge of being an MCC canner, you will make connections for life with people in MCC's constituency who will make you feel at home.

 

 

Qualifications:

1. Commitment to Christ and the work of the church
2. Male (living with three other men who are part of the canning team)
3. Ability to work alongside others as a team
4. Adaptable to new places and people
5. Physically strong/healthy, capable of repeatedly lifting 75 pounds
6. Ability to relate to local volunteer groups and appreciate the various diversities*
7. Good mechanical aptitude
8. Ability to work with U.S.D.A. inspectors
9. Class 3 or Commercial Drivers License (CDL) preferred
10. At least 20 years old in order to apply for CDL, with intent of driving truck interstate by the second year

*Canner operators are ambassadors of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) to numerous Mennonite groups whose traditions and practices vary. Canner operators are asked to understand these outward differences and refrain from wearing long hair, jewelry and questionable clothing in the spirit of Romans 14. "So then, we must always aim at those things that bring peace, and that help strengthen one another."

 

Assignment Description:

Canner operators work 8 -12 hour days from October through April including Saturdays. Canners are compensated for long working hours during the canning season by getting extra vacation time. Summers are spent in Akron with regular working hours. This may include working for the maintenance department or as drivers and materials handlers at warehouse facilities. MCC will arrange for each canner to attend a U.S.D.A. approved canning course and to obtain a Commercial Driver's License (CDL).

 

Visa Entries:

A person who cannot secure an R-1 visa is not eligible for overtime payment under U.S. regulations (FLSA).

 

Duties:

1. Drive to, set up and operate canner at 34 locations in 13 states, plus Ontario and Manitoba.
2. Operate canning equipment
• Steam boiler
• Steam cookers
• Steam-jacketed kettles
• Sealer
3. Relate with the canning committees and local volunteers promoting MCC.
4. Maintain and service canner to be ready for the next canning season.
5. While on canning site, canner must refrain from wearing personal jewelry due to constituent sensitivity and safety standards.
6. Other duties during summer include working for maintenance department, warehouse work in the material resource center, and trips to airports.
7. Should be willing to speak to MCC supporters.

 

Location Description:

During the canning season canners live on the road. During summer canners are based in Akron, PA which is a small, bedroom community, in a rural area, population 4,500. It is headquarters for MCC U.S., and MCC International (including Ten Thousand Villages). Akron is 10 miles away from Lancaster (pop. 55,000) which is more ethnically diverse and urban in character.

 

Challenges:

• moving each week to a new location
• working with many different people
• deciding which pies are the best without trying all of them