Volunteering at ROOTS Young Adult Shelter during COVID-19

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ROOTS is seeking additional volunteers during this critical time. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have had over 50% of our volunteers temporarily step down. ROOTS is a young adult emergency shelter that is almost exclusively volunteer run. We are open 365 days a year, with up to 45 guests per night between the ages of 18-25. Volunteers are needed to help with operations tasks but most importantly volunteers will provide social support to the folks who stay here and build meaningful relationships. W e are in great need of additional volunteers at this moment. You must be at least 18 years of age to volunteer with us.

We require all volunteers and staff to wear gloves and face masks throughout the duration of their shift. Volunteers are free to bring in their own face masks or other PPE, and we can provide gloves and disposable face masks on-site. The wellbeing of our volunteers is of the utmost importance, and we only ask you to commit to volunteering if you are safely able to do so. Upon arriving to each shift your Volunteer Supervisor or other staff will ask you questions listed on the ROOTS COVID-19 screening guide and will take your temperature. Staff and guests are screened in the same way upon entering the space. We appreciate your understanding in this process.

Please stay home if you are feeling under the weather, have had recent contact with anyone demonstrating Covid-19 symptoms, or if you yourself have experienced a dry cough, fever, or other Covid-19 symptoms within the last 14 days. Older adults and those with chronic health conditions are discouraged from pursuing our in-shelter Evening and Morning volunteer roles at this time. Our Sanitation role, which maintains a greater level of social distancing, is still available to everyone.

If you can help during this time and are healthy enough to do so, fill out an application on our website at http://www.rootsinfo.org/get-involved/volunteer/volunteer-application/ for your own welcome packet and all the information you will need to volunteer with us.

Shifts:

• In-shelter Evening Shift (8pm-11pm, Everyday): ROOTS evening volunteers socialize with guests and build community while also working as part of a team to ensure the emotional and physical safety of the shelter space. Evening volunteers serve pre-made meals, hand out hygiene supplies and bedding, sign guests in and out of restrooms, and supervise guest activities such as computer time and smoke breaks. Most importantly, evening volunteers spend time with guests chatting over dinner, playing board games, and watching TV together. Evening volunteers provide guests with a sense of stability while helping ensure our shelter runs smoothly and efficiently.
• In-shelter Morning Shift (6:45am-8:30am Sunday-Friday; 7:45am-9:30am Saturday ): Morning volunteers work as part of a team to engage with guests, hand out hygiene supplies, assist with laundry, help guests retrieve supplies from their cubbies, help clean up the shelter, enforce program rules, and help ensure the emotional and physical safety of the space. Morning volunteers build connections with their community and help our guests start off each day on a positive note.
• Morning Sanitation Shift (8am-10am, Monday): Volunteers will come in after the shelter closes to disinfect all shelter beds and deep clean the shelter space. We work to limit the number of volunteers during the Sanitation shift to help maintain social distancing.
• Evening Sanitation Shift (6pm-8pm, Everyday) : Volunteers will come in before the shelter opens to disinfect all shelter beds and deep clean the shelter space. We work to limit the number of volunteers during the Sanitation shift to help maintain social distancing.