Requirements:

  1. You must be 18 years of age for all in shelter positions except breakfast cook and dinner prep crew, which allows minors with adult supervision.
  2. Time commitment of 12 hours a month for at least four months for in-shelter positions (exceptions made for Dinner Prep Crews, Breakfast Crews and Overnighters)
  3. All volunteers must attend the ‘The Ropes’ Training within their first month of volunteering. Trainings are offered every 2nd Wednesday of the month 6pm-9pm. For more information email: theropestraining@gmail.com.
  4. All in-shelter volunteers must attend the Conflict De-escalation training (offered 1st Monday and 3rd Thursday of each month 5pm-8pm).  Overnight volunteers must complete the training before their second overnight. All other volunteers must complete it within their first month of volunteering.  RSVP to volunteer@rootsinfo.org.
  5. All in-shelter volunteers must attend the Race: The Power of an Illusion training (offered quarterly).  Email volunteer@rootsinfo.org to learn about upcoming training dates.

Volunteer Application:
The ROOTS Volunteer Application is available by clicking here 2012 Volunteer Application

 

Volunteer Positions:

 

EVENING VOLUNTEER (8pm-11pm; any day of the week)

Volunteers work as part of a team (including evening and overnight volunteers) to help set up shelter, engage with guests, complete intake paperwork for new guests, hand out hygiene supplies, enforce program rules and help ensure the emotional and physical safety of the space.  Volunteers participate in a shelter team opening meeting and a post-shelter debrief meeting each shift.  Volunteers are supported each night in shelter by a volunteer Evening Supervisor and the Program Coordinator.

 

DINNER PREP CREW (7:30pm-8:30pm; any day of the week)

Volunteers work in a team of 3-5 people to prepare dinner for the evening in shelter.  Volunteers are encouraged to bring food with them they are interested in cooking.  This position does not directly interact with guests, and is open to folks who have not filled out an application or attended orientation.  This is a great way to bring along friends, co-workers and family to volunteer alongside you!  Dinner Prep Crews are supported by a Dinner Prep Crew Lead (a seasoned ROOTS volunteer who is an evening volunteer that same day).

 

OVERNIGHT VOLUNTEER(8pm-8:30am Sat-Thurs; 8pm-9:30am Fri)

Volunteers do similar roles as the evening volunteers before lights out in shelter (10:30pm).  After lights out volunteers rotate through having a 2 hour ‘awake’ shift where they are responsible for helping to monitor the space, doing walk throughs of the room every 10 minutes, being available if guests need emergency assistance, and completing guest laundry.  There are 4 overnight volunteers (including one or two overnight supervisors) and 1 overnight counselor (paid staff) who is the second person awake all night.  Volunteers can sleep the other 6 hours of lights off (10:30pm-7am Sat-Thurs; 10:30pm-7:30am Fri) when they are not on their awake shift.  Mats and bedding are provided.  Overnight volunteers are supported by the volunteer Overnight Supervisor(s) and the Overnight Counselor.  During the evening the Program Coordinator is also available for support on-site and is available for support in an on-call capacity during the overnight shift.

 

BREAKFAST CREW (6:15-8:30am Sun-Fri; 6:45-9:00am Sat)

Volunteers work as a team of 3-4 breakfast crew volunteers to help prepare a simple hot breakfast, serve food to guests, and clean up the kitchen.  Volunteers typically bring food they are cooking that morning.  Some non-perishable supplies are available at ROOTS.  We ask that at least one person from the breakfast crew has attended volunteer orientation and filled out an application.

 

MORNING FLOOR (6:45am-8:30am Sun-Fri; 7:15am-9:30am Sat)

Volunteers work as part of a team (including overnight volunteers and morning floor volunteers) to engage with guests, hand out hygiene supplies, help clean up shelter, enforce program rules and help ensure the emotional and physical safety of the space.  Guests are required to leave shelter by 8am Sun-Fri and 9am Sat.  For 30 minutes after guests leave, volunteers help restock hygiene supplies, prepare bedding for the next night, start any remaining shelter laundry and clean up the shelter space.  Morning volunteers are supported by the Overnight Supervisor(s). Management and Program Coordinators are available for support in an on-call capacity.

FRIDAY FEAST (Fridays; flexible hours 1pm-8pm)
All-ages meal program serving a hot dinner to approximately 100-150 people.  Volunteers help with meal preparation between 1-5PM, serve dinner from 5:30-7PM, and clean up until 8PM.  Volunteers under 18 may participate with adult supervision.  If you are interested in bringing a group of volunteers please call us and we will work with you to schedule that.

ADMINISTRATIVE VOLUNTEER (flexible hours)
Volunteers assist Executive and Program Directors with assorted administrative support tasks including collating applications and training materials, upkeep of supply storage areas, copying, filing, mailings, etc.

GROUP VOLUNTEER PROJECTS (flexible)
Gather a group of people together and set up a time to come in and help with housekeeping around shelter.  Tasks include: organizing clothing closet, sanitizing mats, cleaning and organizing the kitchen, sorting donations, and assembling bulk mailings.  Volunteers under 18 may participate with adult supervision.

MEETING THE SHELTER TEAM

ROOTS gathers our crew monthly at our Volunteer Mixer.  The Mixer is located at Schultzy’s on the Ave (4114 University Way NE, Seattle 98105) and happens on the first Wednesday of the month (excluding holidays and UW finals week) from 6pm-7pm.  Feel free to come join us even before filling out this application or attending an orientation. New volunteers and folks interested in volunteering are welcome!  Our location in Schultzy’s changes based on our numbers, but look for a sign with the ROOTS logo at a table!  Want to double check if we’ll be there this month? Call 206-632-1635.