Central & Safe Harbor Series:

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Part Two – Volunteer Needs

Safe Harbor opens daily at 6:00 p.m.  After the guests check in, they have access to dinner, showers, laundry, and a bed for the night.  There are two or three shelter staff on duty at all times.  How is it possible to offer these services with such limited staffing?  Volunteers are key to the operation of Safe Harbor! 

CHECK-IN:  A volunteer is utilized in the front lobby to record guests entering for the evening. This shift runs from 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

CHECK-IN ASSISTANT: This volunteer distributes meal tickets to guests and bags guest medications for storage.  This position works in tandem with the check-in volunteer and works the same shift.

GUEST MEDICATIONS: The medication room has over-the-counter medications and guest medications (which they manage).  A volunteer is stationed here from 5:30 – 8:00.  

KITCHEN (Weekends and Mondays):  This summer, weekend meals are purchased from Goodwill Inn.  Prepared meals come packed in trays that just need reheating. Two volunteers are needed to heat, serve and clean.  On Mondays, 5Loaves2Fish brings prepared meals.  Four volunteers are needed to reheat, serve and clean.

KITCHEN:  Volunteers prepare the food, serve, and clean up after dinner.  These shifts typically run from 4:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. 

New volunteers will receive training from staff and/or experienced volunteers to ensure a satisfying experience.  The structure and policies of Safe Harbor provide a safe environment for guests and volunteers.  

Won’t you seriously consider joining CUMC in their support of this important outreach?  We are primarily looking for volunteers to cover Monday, August 17th – Friday, August 21st. Josh Brandt and Cindee McLaughlin are current Safe Harbor Volunteers (and CUMC members).  They will be answering questions and signing up volunteers after the 9:00 service (Josh) in the park AND after the 11:00 service (Cindee) at Traverse Bay.  Look for the sign-up area on the following Sundays: July 26th, August 2nd, and August 9th.  

If you have volunteered at Safe Harbor before or if you have identified the position that you would like, please use the following link: https://gtsafeharbor.ivolunteer.com/cumc_827

Missed reading Part One of this series? Click here to read it now.