Second Century Of Faith

• If there are  no families in need of shelter on the evening  of your volunteer assignment, you will receive a call letting you know  your volunteer assignment is complete. Please consider spending some of  your time that evening writing a letter to your federal, state and local  representatives and in prayer for families in need. 
• If there are  families in need of shelter, plan to  arrive at the shelter by 5:30 PM.  A Project Home Site Coordinator will greet you and orient you to the space being used for the shelter and  shelter rules. You will be needed until the Overnight Shelter Hosts arrive  and are oriented – approximately 8:30 PM.
   

• Welcome  families as they arrive to the shelter.  
• Assist  the Site Coordinator in distributing bedding and care packs to new  families.

• Tidy  up kitchen facilities and eating area after use.
• Engage  children and youth in activities such as homework, reading, games,  puzzles, videos, etc. with parent’s permission.
• Be  available to talk with adult guests if they wish to converse.
• Be  a model for shelter rules and remind families of the shelter rules when  needed.
• Complete  daily page in Pass Down Log: enter date, information on number of families  at shelter, comments, and sign in.
• Tidy  up bathrooms and dump trash from the kitchen.
• Greet  and orient Overnight Shelter Host to the space being used for the shelter  and shelter rules. Introduce Overnight Shelter Host to shelter  guests.  If you are working on  Sunday – Thursday, please remind the overnights to open the side door for  the morning shift by 6:15 AM.

• A  friendly, caring attitude.
• Reliability  – our shelter program is primarily run by volunteers.
• Energy  and a love of children.
• Respect  and understanding for parents.
   

• A  training session will be provided by Project Home staff at your place of  worship. You are encouraged to attend.
   

Parking restriction:  Do not park in the alley or behind the garage so as not to block Fr. Kevin.

• Evening “point person” is first to arrive.  The point person is the shift leader. 
• Evening volunteers arrive by 5:30 PM, sign the  pass down log, check to see the families who will be joining us, and see  if there have been any issues recently. Sign the blue confidentiality  agreement in kitchen if this is your first shift. 
• Usually a Project Home staff member arrives  before the guests.  This is  especially true if we have a new family in the shelter. 
• Project Home van/bus arrives between 5:30-6:00 PM,  and guests come through the back (north) lobby and down the stairs. 
• Families get settled.  If they were here the night before, they  return to the room they had.  Their  bedding remains from the previous night, unless the linens were soiled. 
• If there are new families, or if families have  been with us for over one week, we help them with fresh linens.  Please note:  there is a posted procedure in the back  room for dealing with soiled sheets.
• We engage the children in activities.  We especially encourage use of the  outdoor playground until 8 pm or dark.  However, there must be at least one  parent and one volunteer out there at all times.  Otherwise, we play cards, games, art,  etc.  School aged children are  encouraged to complete homework.   Some days, the St. Paul Public Schools send tutors. 
• Occasionally, a family may arrive later due to  work, another appointment, etc.  We  always know about this in advance. 
• Around 7:00-7:30 PM, we serve a snack  The Family Place  serves supper at 4:15 PM.  Some guests miss it due to work, and many children are hungry again. 
• Help children wind down after 8:00 PM.   Help them pick up toys and in general  transition from more active play to quieter activities such as reading stories.

• You should never be alone with child.  This is a liability issue.  Never take a child to the bathroom, into  one of the curtained bedrooms, or to the playground alone.  
• We do not touch bodily fluids:  if necessary, we hand the parent the  first-aid kit.  We do not change  diapers or mop up vomit (we help the parent by getting supplies).
• We cannot give out any medicines, including our own aspirin. 
• Parents can store medications in refrigerator. 
• Adult guests may use the kitchen telephone for brief, local calls. 
• No one under 16 is to be in kitchen.