Winter Shelter - OVERNIGHT HOSTS

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PROGRAM OVEWVIEW

November through March, we help provide an overnight shelter for members of our community who need a place to stay. We are open Wednesday nights - with the possibility of opening up on a Monday or Tuesday in the case of severe weather (consecutive days of freezing weather). We provide transportation for guests needing transportation to and from our facility. We work with Washington County and their network of churches providing shelters to ensure that every night of the week is covered and there are beds available for those in our community.

The services we provide in a typical evening include: transportation, a warm meal, opportunities for shower and laundry, clean blankets and pillow, and a mat to sleep on. Occasionally, there will be outreach workers from local community outreach organizations looking to connect with our guests and point them to community resources. Furthermore, there are plans for volunteer medical professionals from the Borland Free Clinic (located on site) to offer free medical services for the guests of our shelter as well.

We are seeking volunteer overnight hosts who are passionate about working with those in our community without permanent housing, are willing to learn how to work with and connect with this community and willing to commit to serving ONE night a month. We know and understand that this may be asking a lot out of some people but this is truly a benefit to those seeking refuge from the cold weather. We’ve received letters of appreciation from past guests conveying their gratitude - not just for the services received but the smiles, welcoming environment and friendly conversations they received as well.

DUTIES (MAY) INCLUDE:

• Assist with the set up of shelter bedding (mats, blankets, pillows)
• Assist with the set up and/or serving of food items (dinner, snacks, coffee, breakfast)
• Assist with checking guests in and getting them signed up for showers and laundry
• Coordinating and facilitating guests showers
• Coordinating and facilitating guests laundry
• Assist guests obtaining clothes from the clothing closet (limited to 1-2 sets of clothes)
• Keep watch overnight, during a 2 hour shift, between the hours of 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM
• Overnight hosts will be able to sleep. Between the hours of 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, the team of overnight hosts will work together to decide which host will take one of the four two-hour shifts (10 PM to 12 AM || 12 AM to 2 AM | | 2 AM to 4 AM || or 4 AM to 6 AM).
• Assist with waking guests up at 6 AM
• Assist with clean up (after meals, spills, after showers, as guests leave)

Guests start arriving shortly after 6 PM. All guests are expected to gone by 7 AM.

We ask that volunteers try arriving by 5:30 PM to help with final set up and preparations and that volunteers try staying until 7:30 AM to help with final clean up.

Because this is in conjunction with Washington County, there will be training opportunities available through out the Shelter season that will be made available to you as a volunteer.

Due to the wide variety of backgrounds our guests are coming from, no minors are permitted to serve or stay the night at the Shelter.

If you are interested, please call (503) 638-5900 and ask for Zach Gillock or send me an email at zach.gillock@rollinghills.org.

• Groups
• International Volunteers