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Volunteer Guidelines

On Volunteering:

1. Be on time.
2. If you cannot volunteer at your scheduled time, please notify the Volunteer Coordinator as far in advance as possible.
3. Please do not consume alcohol or other drugs before or while volunteering at the Shelter.
4. Please do not smoke inside the Shelter.
5. Park on the side of the building.
6. Leave valuables at home or locked out of sight in your car.
7. Dress casually.  Women need to dress conservatively.
8. Sign-in and out at the front desk.  Meal Service groups sign in the kitchen.
9. Wear a volunteer badge.
10. Report any incidents of sexual or physical harassment to the Volunteer Coordinator.
11. Notify the Volunteer Coordinator when bringing an unscheduled guest.  For safety reasons, please do not bring children under the age of 16 to the Shelter.
12. To avoid discriminating against anyone’s religious beliefs, religious instruction and the observance of any group practices are prohibited on Shelter property.
13. Please direct problems, questions, or suggestions to the Volunteer Coordinator.
14. Volunteers may be dismissed by the Volunteer Coordinator for poor attendance, poor performance, or, with warning, for actions contrary to Shelter policies.

On Residents:

1. Volunteers are not to give residents items, money, gifts or favors.

2. Volunteers wishing to work with a resident independently from existing Uptown Shelter volunteer programs are to clear the activities through the Volunteer Coordinator.  The Uptown Shelter takes no responsibility for actions taken by volunteers who have not consulted with the Volunteer Coordinator or other Shelter management staff.

3. For reasons of liability, volunteers are not to give residents rides in their personal vehicles.  The Uptown Shelter takes no responsibility for accidents occurring when volunteers do not follow this policy.

4. VOLUNTEERS ARE NEVER TO INTERVENE in the following situations: intoxicated resident(s), residents displaying behaviors resulting from mental illness (i.e. pacing, talking to oneself, or to an object), hostile or abusive residents, or emergency health problems (i.e. seizures or heart problems).  If situations like these or a medical situation occurs, be prepared to call 911 at the request of an Uptown Shelter staff person.