Volunteers Making a Difference
The goal of the Volunteer Program is to support the mission of the Interfaith Community Shelter and to offer opportunities for volunteers to have meaningful and purposeful experiences with ICS and its guests. A volunteer’s presence brings fresh energy and enthusiasm to the guests. In addition to supporting services at ICS, volunteers act as liaisons between the Interfaith Community Shelter and the public.
After completing a volunteer form which includes a liability release statement and a confidentiality agreement, volunteers receive training from staff and other volunteers.
Available Volunteer Opportunities
After completing a volunteer form which includes a liability release statement and a confidentiality agreement, volunteers receive training from staff and other volunteers.
Day Service Opportunities Available All Year Long
Opportunities are on Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday mornings. If you are interested in volunteering, please send email to: volunteers@interfaithsheltersf.org.
Prepare and Serve Weekday Lunches 9:00 am – 12:30 pm
Under the direction of the kitchen manager and following the food service guidelines, volunteers prepare and serve lunches.
Community Closet 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Volunteers help sort and organize donations and assist when guests are choosing items.
Showers 9:00 am – 11:15 am
Clean and prepare the shower room for each guest and assure procedures are followed by the guests.
Service opportunities for seasonal overnight shelter (SOS): second Sunday in October to first Saturday in May
Host Group; 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Host groups are organized by faith and civic communities and work with staff to schedule volunteer times. Host Group volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied at all times by an adult or guardian. Host Groups (eight to ten people) donate, prepare and serve an evening meal for 125 guests. Food service safety guidelines assure the health and safety of our guests. Volunteers with the Host Groups are asked to review and follow the Food Handling and Preparations Rules and bring the completed Food Safety Checklist (see below) when they deliver donated meals.
Members of the host group are also asked to assist with checking in guests’ luggage and assigning sleeping bags. Please download and complete the form to the right titled “Volunteer Information Sheet & Liability – Host Group”
Core Team: 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Four to five people to check in guests each evening during the winter season under the direction of a volunteer team leader. Download and complete the form to the right titled “Volunteer Information Sheet & Liability – Nights”.
Host Groups and Core Teams can check the calendar below for current schedules.
Below is a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) specific to volunteering at Interfaith Community Shelter. If you have other questions or would like additional information, please send an email to: volunteers@interfaithsheltersf.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
I am interested in having my community group volunteer at the shelter. Who do I call?
Many community groups agree to provide meals and bring volunteers to serve the meals for one or more weeks during the Winter Season which begins in late October and ends the first week of May. These groups are called Host Teams. However, we realize there are many groups with smaller memberships who may only be able to help for one or more days. Your Host Team can be scheduled then on a mutually agreeable date with Sue, the volunteer coordinator. The Host Team can bring all the food needed or ask other members of their community group to provide some of the food.
What do the community group volunteers (Host Teams) do?
What type of food and how much food is needed for 125 meals?
Since most people don’t prepare meals for 125 people, the following will help Host Teams to know how much to bring.
The amount per serving is: 6 oz. of protein, 4 oz. of starch, and 4 oz. of vegetable.
And the total amount would be: 47 lbs. of protein; 32 lbs. of starch, and 32 lbs. of vegetable.
There are many Host Teams who prepare nutritious and delicious casseroles. If your menu is a main-dish casserole, please have two aluminum serving pans, size 12” x 20” x 3” (filled to at least 2”) or four aluminum serving pans, size 12” x 10” x 3” (filled to at least 2”). These aluminum pans can usually be purchased at larger supermarkets or retail warehouses like Sam’s Club.)
Does the Interfaith Community Shelter have pots and pans, bowls, serving trays and utensils for the Host Team to use?
Will there be any ICS staff members at the shelter while we are volunteering?
Do you hold training for Host Team volunteers?
Yes, we have regularly scheduled training sessions throughout the year. For training information or if you’d like an individualized training for your Host Team, please send an email to: volunteers@interfaithsheltersf.org.
Will the Host Teams be able to meet and talk with the shelter guests?
I am unable to coordinate a team and am not a member of an existing host team, but i still want to help. What can i do?
We can always use an extra set of hands to serve meals on nights when a Host Team is short-staffed. If you are interested in this opportunity, please send an email to: volunteers@interfaithsheltersf.org.
ICS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization