Volunteers: Ordinary People Make a Difference
If you could make someone’s life better in just one day…would you?
Project Homeless Connect volunteers are the vital link between concerned community members and the homeless in our community. Our goal is to create a welcoming environment that will help the homeless connect with services that will bring them one step closer to becoming stable and housed.
The Number of Unsheltered Homeless Families in our City Continues to Rise
As a volunteer you have the opportunity to talk with participants; one of the most important outcomes of Project Homeless Connect–you can show participants that they are welcome in our community.
There are many volunteer opportunities available for the Columbia-Boone County Project Homeless Connect event. Below are descriptions of key volunteer areas, if you are interested in volunteering please review this list and complete the volunteer registration form.
1. Hospitality Volunteers include registration, guides, and check-out. We need 75 volunteers to carry out these important tasks.
–Registration-help participants check-in and fill in paper work, introduce participants to their guide, and answer any questions participants have about the event.
–Guides-accompany participants through the service area, answer questions, assist with paperwork, make conversation, provide comfort and advocacy.
–Check-out-collect final paperwork from participants, distribute hygiene and grocery kits, and complete final checklist and survey.
2. Personal Care volunteers will help participants with personal services during the event. This area needs approximately 10 volunteers.
–Assist barbers and stylists as needed.
–Staff the shower facilities—supervising, handing out towels, keeping area clean, and distributing soap and toothpaste.
Home Is Where the Heart Is
3. Animal Care Volunteers will help care for animals on the day of the event including baths, brushing, flea and tick treatment. We need five volunteers in this area.
4. Food Service Volunteers will be needed to serve food, bus tables, attend the drink station, keep the buffet table neat, and collect trash. This area needs 10 volunteers.
5. The Break Down Crew will assist with dismantling and transport of tables and other equipment out of the arena at the end of the event. Ten to fifteen volunteers are needed for this team.
6. Essential Services Volunteers will be assigned to assist service providers with specific needs. There will be as many as 40 service providers.
You do not need prior experience to volunteer at the event. Training will be provided on August 4 and August 5 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. You only need to attend one training. Although trainings are highly encouraged, they are not required. This training will cover basic information about the homeless in our community, do’s and don’ts for interacting with participants, detailed information about your duties on the day of the event including an event map, and volunteer registration paperwork.
Volunteer Registration Form
If you can’t volunteer but want to contribute please contact Mandy Fangmann (mfangmann@mhdc.com) or Jenni Miller (jmiller@mhdc.com).
