VOLUNTEERISM AT ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
It has been an unprecedented time in the history of the world. After enduring nearly two years of restrictions related to the coronavirus and after careful consideration, we have reached a point where we feel comfortable in resuming volunteerism at a near pre-pandemic level.
WE ARE EXCITED BEYOND WORDS TO PARTNER WITH OUR BELOVED VOLUNTEERS TO DO GOOD WORKS FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
Even though the coronavirus is not surging in our community at this time, you know that our number one priority is the safety of our volunteers, guests and staff at St. Vincent de Paul. Please review our current safety protocols before volunteering.
CURRENT safety PROTOCOLS: (AS OF June 1, 2022)
1. Linked to this webpage is the COVID 19 Health Screening Questionnaire. Please review it before you come to volunteer in a setting where staff and/or guests are present.
2. Our insurance agency requires us to have a Minor Volunteer Waiver for each minor that volunteers at St. Vincent de Paul where staff and/or guests are present. A parent or guardian must sign the waiver. The waiver is linked here for your convenience. You can print it out at home, sign it and bring it when you come to volunteer. It is also linked to every sign up to which it applies.
3. ALL volunteers in a facility with staff, guests and other volunteers MUST WEAR A MASK. N-95 and KN-95 masks have proven themselves to be more protective. Also, surgical masks are protective and acceptable as well. Therefore, these types (N-95, KN-95 and surgical) masks will be the only acceptable masks to wear. The nose and mouth must be covered. A mask will be provided if you do not have one.
PLEASE READ DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR EACH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY ON THE RESPECTIVE SIGN UP GENIUS.
EASTER PROJECTS:
Easter Basket Project: At St. Vincent de Paul, we want all children to be able to experience the joy of receiving an Easter Basket filled with goodies. We will need LOTS of help to accomplish this. As described below, we need volunteers to assemble Easter Baskets onsite, offsite and to donate supplies for baskets. An Easter Build A Basket flyer is attached. Please help us get the word out about this important project. We will assemble Easter Baskets at 6190 Greenwell Springs Road Mondays through Fridays during two sessions per day beginning on March 4th (set up of room through March 6th) and concluding on March 22nd.
Easter Sunday: We would like to provide a special dining experience for our guests at St. Vincent de Paul on Easter Sunday. We would like to have 6 volunteers plate the meals and 40 volunteers to provide table service to our guests on this most special day of the year. We would also like to have 12 volunteers to work in the Easter Store to distribute free items to our guests. We would like for the Dining Room of St. Vincent de Paul to be decorated to reflect the spirit of Easter. We would LOVE to have five volunteers for Easter Day willing to make or purchase Easter decorations for twenty tables in our Dining Room and come the morning of Easter to set up the decorations between 9 AM and 10:30 AM.
DISTRIBUTION CENTER AND GONZALES, HAMMOND, PLANK ROAD AND STARING LANE THRIFT STORES
Volunteers are a critical part of our store operations. Volunteers can assist St. Vincent de Paul tremendously by sorting through and organizing donated items which will enhance the processing and ultimate sale of donated items. Any revenues generated by our stores are put back into our programs to assist the needy. Donated items may originate at our Distribution Center or Gonzales Thrift Store, Hammond Thrift Store, Plank Road Thrift Store or Staring Lane Thrift Store. Details about volunteerism at any of these locations may be viewed on the Sign Up Genius for that location.
BAGS OF HOPE: Volunteers have resumed making BAGS OF HOPE.
Bags of Hope continue to be a lifeline for our guests. For most guests, the Bag of Hope is the evening meal. We need volunteers to help those most in need. Please sign up if you feel you’re ready to venture back into volunteerism.
We are requesting fourteen volunteers on Mondays and nineteen volunteers on Thursdays and Saturdays from 8:30 AM until 10:30 AM to assist with the project. The majority of volunteers will construct bags while four volunteers will make sandwiches. We ask that volunteers wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth. We will supply gloves.
DINING ROOM 2024: We would like to have twelve volunteers each day to assist in serving our guests. Ten volunteers serve the food while two volunteers offer Bags of Hope to guests as they exit the Dining Room. The time commitment is from 11 AM until 1 PM. Volunteers will be required to wear a mask. Gloves, a hair net and apron will be provided to volunteers on the serving line.
MANNA GIVERS began dropping off meals to the shelters on June 1, 2020. We are so very grateful to our dear Manna Givers who have remained committed through the pandemic to provide delicious home cooked meals to our shelter guests. At present, we continue to ask that meals be dropped off. We hope to be able to invite our Manna Givers in to serve the meal and have fellowship with the shelter guests before too much longer.
Please provide meals in disposable containers that we will not need to return to you. Do not worry about serving utensils. We have plenty of those. Please wear a mask and gloves when dropping off your meal. Please call five days in advance of the day you are scheduled to drop off a meal to determine the number of guests in the shelter at that time.
The drop off time for lunch in the Day Shelter will be 10:45 AM. The drop off time for all of the evening shelters will be 5:45 PM.
The drop off location for the Plank Road Men’s Shelter will be the door of the shelter located at 2550 Plank Road. Knock on the door and the Night Manager will place a cart outside of the door. Please load the food you have brought on the cart. Knock again and this will indicate to the Night Manager that you are leaving and they will retrieve the food. This will be a no contact drop off for the safety of all.
The drop off location for the Main Men’s Shelter will be the Dining Room of St. Vincent de Paul located at 220 St. Vincent de Paul Place. Please come to the Dining Room parking lot and drive up to the only door that is accessible from that parking lot. Knock on the door and the Night Manager will place a cart outside of the door. Please load the food you have brought on the cart. Knock again and this will indicate to the Night Manager that you are leaving and they will retrieve the food. This will be a no contact drop off for the safety of all.
The drop off location for lunch at the Day Shelter and the evening meal for Sweet Dreams AND the Sweet Dreams Expansion Shelter will be the single glass door that is nearest to the new emergency shelter located at 1623 Convention Street. Next to the new emergency shelter is a black wrought iron fence with a gate. You can drive up on the concrete slab in front of the telephone pole that is near that gate long enough to deliver the meal. Go through the gate to the single glass door. Ring the doorbell and the Day/Night manager will place a cart outside of the door. Please load the food you have brought on the cart. The Day/Night Manager will see you through the door and will retrieve the food after you have left. This will be a no contact drop off for the safety of all. IT WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU PUT A NOTE ON THE FOOD INDICATING WHICH SHELTER YOU ARE DELIVERING A MEAL FOR. IS THE MEAL FOR THE SWEET DREAMS SHELTER (UPSTAIRS) OR THE SWEET DREAMS EXPANSION SHELTER (DOWNSTAIRS)?
The volunteer opportunities that are tabbed on the main Sign Up Genius page are the only activities that are occurring currently. Details about protocol concerning volunteerism is noted on each sign up.
Thank you for working with us to provide hope and sustenance to some of the most vulnerable members of our community. The guests are SO GRATEFUL for the delicious home cooked meals that you bring. Thank you so much to those of you that have provided a donation during the pandemic in lieu of the meal you would have prepared. It is this generosity that has kept us going.
Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator through the Sign Up Genius should you have any questions.
Updated: June 1, 2022
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Volunteers play a critical role in all of our programs. Whether they are serving food, sorting clothing, or dispensing medicine, the people who volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul are helping us serve our community's neediest citizens. There are many volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups.
Click on the link below to view the volunteer opportunities at St. Vincent de Paul. Please check back frequently as additional opportunities are added as they become available.