Volunteer Opportunities
ROOTS Young Adult Shelter wouldn’t be able to open our doors each night without volunteers! Our volunteers do work each day that is critical to carrying out the mission of ROOTS.
On any given night, our goal is to have one volunteer or staff member present for every three guests that we serve. Volunteers perform some logistical tasks to keep the shelter running smoothly, including setting up and cleaning the shelter space, serving meals, and handing out supplies. However, our volunteer program's core is building a community with our guests and providing social support. Through their compassionate presence, volunteers provide our guests with stability that they often do not experience. Our volunteers make positive, meaningful, and long-lasting impacts in the lives of the young people we serve. If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity that is fun, rewarding, and beneficial to young people, look no further!
The first step to begin volunteering is to complete our Volunteer Application. From there, you will be able to complete our Volunteer Orientation training and then you will be added to our weekly volunteer schedule.
INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
ROOTS has Evening, Dinner, Morning and Overnight individual volunteer opportunities available. We strongly encourage individual volunteers to make a weekly commitment. Volunteers are required to come in once per week on a consistent day at a consistent time. We currently have the following individual volunteer opportunities available:
Evening Volunteer
When: 7pm-11pm any day of the week
Evening Volunteers engage with guests to socialize and build community while working as part of a team to ensure the emotional and physical safety of the shelter space. Evening volunteers set up the shelter each night, hand out hygiene supplies and bedding, and supervise guest activities such as computer time and smoke breaks. Most importantly, Evening Volunteers spend time with guests chatting over dinner, playing board games, and watching TV together. Evening Volunteers provide guests with stability and support while helping ensure our shelter runs smoothly.
Morning Volunteer
When: 6:45am-8:30am Sun-Fri; 7:15am-9:30am Sat
Morning Volunteers work as part of a team to engage with guests, hand out hygiene supplies, assist with laundry, help guests retrieve supplies from their cubbies, help clean up shelter, enforce program rules, and ensure the emotional and physical safety of the space. Morning Volunteers build connections with their community and help our guests begin their day on a positive note.
Overnight Volunteer
When: 7pm-8:30am Sat-Thurs; 7pm-9:30am Fri
Overnight volunteers have similar roles as the evening volunteers before lights out in the shelter (10:30 pm). After lights out, overnight volunteers get to sleep or relax for 6-hours (mats and bedding are provided) and perform an ‘awake’ shift for the other 2-hours. These awake shifts generally take place from 1 am-3 am, or 3 am-5 am. During this ‘awake’ shift the overnight volunteer is responsible for helping staff to monitor the space. This consists of doing walk-through’s of the room every 10 minutes, signing guests in and out of bathrooms, completing guest laundry, and being available if guests need emergency assistance. During the morning, overnight volunteers assist our morning floor volunteers. Serving as an overnight volunteer is a great way to spend the most time impacting your community and building connections. It is also generally where we have the greatest need and struggle with capacity.
REQUIRED VOLUNTEER TRAININGS
This training is available online, and incoming volunteers are eligible to sign-up after completing a volunteer application. We schedule each volunteer for their weekly shifts after they complete the Volunteer Orientation training.
Paperwork Requirements
All incoming individual volunteers must complete a volunteer application before signing up for our Volunteer Orientation training. At or before the Volunteer Orientation training, volunteers must sign a Volunteer Agreement and complete a Background Check Authorization form. Background checks are done before the volunteer's first shift.
Volunteer Requirements
Age: All individual volunteers must be at least 18 years old. There are no age restrictions for group volunteer projects.
Time Commitments: In order to help maintain a sense of stability and consistency for our guest population, we strongly encourage all in-shelter volunteers to make a 6-month commitment.
Conflict of Interest Policy
In an effort to maintain a high standard of conduct expected and deserved by our funders and guests, ROOTS operates under the Conflict of Interest Policy outlined here. Employees and members of the Board of Directors are asked to review this code and complete the certificate of understanding that follows.Please read our Conflict of Interest. Thank you.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact our Volunteer Team.