Woman´s Lunch Place

Kitchen Volunteer

Volunteers help in our kitchen, preparing and serving meals to our guests. WLP serves a continental breakfast and a homemade lunch each day. We make all of our meals from scratch and use only the freshest ingredients.

Kitchen volunteers are needed between the hours of 7a.m. -2:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. We ask kitchen volunteers to provide their services for at least two hours each week. Volunteers may work fixed or flexible schedules.

Kitchen volunteers can expect to:

• Prepare and serve meal
• Unpack and sort deliveries
• Keep buffet areas stocked and tidy
• Assist with cleanup
• Interact with guests

Qualified candidates must possess:

• Patience
• Ability to multitask and take initiative
• Sense of humor
• Willingness to take directions from WLP staff

Requirements:

• WLP volunteer orientation
• Participation in WLP's Serv Safe course

 

A typical day in the kitchen

Here is the everyday schedule.

• 7 a.m.Breakfast preparation begins
• 7 a.m. Coffee and tea service
• Continental Breakfast service (concludes at 11:30 a.m.)
• 8 a.m. Lunch preparation begins
• Noon-2 p.m. Lunch service
• 2 p.m.Begin cleanup

Serve Safe Course

WLP takes the health and safety of its guests very seriously. To this end, all kitchen volunteers are required to complete a Serve Safe Food Safety course within their first two months of volunteering. In this two-hour class, you will learn how to prepare and serve food in a safe and hygienic manner and how to protect yourself and others from food borne illnesses. The course is facilitated by WLP's Operations Manager. It is held twice a month at the WLP office.

 

Resource Center Volunteer

 

Volunteers are needed Monday through Saturday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.* to help support daily activities in our Resource Center (RC). RC Volunteers are expected to assist guests in accessing community resources and to help keep the RC flowing smoothly. In some instances, volunteers may staff the RC independently. RC Volunteers also help maintain a calm and pleasant atmosphere by interacting with guests and building relationships. This position requires an ability to respond to and prioritize multiple requests for assistance, manage computers and office supplies, and comfort in working closely with guests.

*Please note that under certain circumstances, we may accept volunteers who are unable to commit to the entire day.
**We are especially interested in finding volunteers who speak Spanish, Haitian Creole, as well as other languages, in order to welcome guests in their preferred tongues.**

RC Volunteers can expect to:

• Get to know guests.
• Offer emotional support.
• Assist guests with computers: including tutoring and technical assistance.
• Monitor and facilitate computer and phone access to ensure equitable and reasonable usage.
• Help guests with copier, fax, and mail, and distribute office supplies.
• Help guests locate information on shelters, housing, food banks and meals, employment and educational programming.
• Assist guests with employment related issues including: resume writing, finding job postings, and career strategizing.
• Accurately keep track of the number of women who use the RC and its services.
• Respond to minor technology issues.
• Close down the RC at the end of the day, including daily notes and tidying/disinfecting RC.
• Work on other projects, depending on area of interest. Possibilities include: updating resource listings and bulletin boards, offering workshops for guests (i.e. computer skills, ESL).

Qualified candidates must possess:
These are the qualities that make for a successful volunteer:

• Patience
• Ability to set limits in a firm and respectful manner
• Sense of humor
• Willingness to take directives from WLP staff
• Ability to deliver services in a non-judgmental manner
• Ability to attend to varied and multiple needs of guests, many of whom are substance users and/or mentally ill
• Committed interest in developing relationships with guests
• Willingness to learn and comply with WLP policies and procedures

Requirements:

• Willingness to commit to at least two shifts per month, though preferably one per week, on a regular schedule.

Training Protocol:

• Volunteer Orientation
• Three training shifts with Resource Center Coordinator in the RC, or until the RC Coordinator and volunteer agree on readiness to volunteer independently.(Participation in WLP In-Service Trainings (optional)
• Reading and comprehension of RC Guide

To learn more about our Resource Center, click here!

Volunteer Support Assistant

Volunteers are needed Monday to Saturday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.* to help WLP staff manage daily activities in the shelter. Volunteer Support Assistants work under the direction of WLP staff members, who work on a rotating schedule. Volunteer Support Assistants are expected to respond to guests' needs and requests, and to assist with other housekeeping tasks, as designated by the WLP support manual. Volunteer Support Assistants also help to maintain a calm and pleasant atmosphere in the shelter by interacting with guests throughout the day. This position requires an ability to multitask and to think fast on one's feet.

*This position requires individuals to make a daylong commitment at a minimum of two shifts per month.

Volunteer Support Assistants may be asked to help with the following:
(Please note: tasks may vary depending on the day)

• Provide guests with access to laundry and shower services, maintain sign-up lists
• Take and fill requests for toiletries and clothing (as directed by WLP support person)
• Let guests into nap room; maintain sign-up sheet, change linens as needed
• Accept clothing and toiletry donations; process in-kind donation forms and sort donations
• Assist staff during crisis situations (training will be provided)
• Check in with guests in all areas of the shelter
• Clean up at the end of the day
• Help serve lunch (if needed)

Volunteer Support Assistants can expect to:

• Provide guests with access to laundry and shower services, maintain sign-up lists
• Take and fill requests for toiletries and clothing (as directed by WLP support person)
• Let guests into nap room; maintain sign-up sheet, change linens as needed
• Accept clothing and toiletry donations; process in-kind donation forms and sort donations• Assist staff during crisis situations (training will be provided)
• Check in with guests in all areas of the shelter.
• Clean up at the end of the day
• Help serve lunch (if needed)

Qualified candidates must possess:

• Patience
• Ability to set limits in a firm and respectful manner
• Demonstrated ability to respond calmly and proactively to crisis situations
• Sense of humor
• Willingness to take directives from WLP staff
• Ability to deliver services in a non-judgmental manner
• Ability to attend to varied and multiple needs of guests, many of whom are substance users and/or mentally ill
• Committed interest in developing relationships with guests
• Willingness to learn and comply with WLP policies and procedures

Requirements:

• Interested candidates must first complete three months of exemplary volunteer service in the kitchen
  Willingness to commit to at least 2 shifts a month (7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.) for 6 months or longer

Training Protocol:

• Four full-day training sessions with WLP staff (7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.)
• CPR, First Aid and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training (to be completed by the conclusion of the 4th training session)
• Participation in WLP In-Service Trainings (optional)
• Reading and comprehension of WLP Support Manual

Guest Assistance Volunteers

WLP stores emergency toiletries, clothing, birthday gifts, bingo prizes, and program supplies in its donations closet. We accept donations Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Donations tend to arrive in unpredictable patterns, and staff are often too busy to sort through them properly.

Guest Assistance Volunteers can expect to:

• Greet donors dropping off donations and ensure that they fill out an in-kind donations slipHelp support staff find specific items requested by guests
• Sort incoming donations and put them in their appropriate locations, reserve items requested in the "Guest Wish List"
• Ensure that we keep a reserve of seasonally-appropriate emergency clothing on hand in a variety of sizes. This involves sorting through donations and organizing clothing into bins or bags according to size.
• Organize toiletry shelves to ensure that items are neat and accessible
• General cleaning (sweeping, emptying trash as needed, etc.)
• After orientation period, distributing items to guests who request them

Qualified candidates must possess:

• Detail-oriented
• No dust allergies
• Patience
• Love of organizing
• Sense of humor!

Requirements:
Interested candidates must be willing to commit to a weekly two-hour shift of at least three months. Times are flexible.

• Tuesdays, Fridays, and/or Saturdays are preferred.

One two-hour training session with WLP's Program Manager or Support Services Coordinator

Resource Center Volunteer assists a guest with internet access.