Options for Volunteer Involvement

There are a number of different ways that a volunteer can contribute to assisting the homeless of Springfield through the SOS program. These include the following:

1. Direct Volunteer Service

The SOS Program needs different volunteers each year to support its shelter system. Volunteers can serve in a number of different capacities. In addition, opportunities are available for shift and site management positions. Youth volunteers should be high school age. One adult must be present for every 3 youths and is responsible for their wellbeing. Youth volunteers should not be involved in front door check-in activities. Youth volunteers are to leave the shelter site by 9:00 p.m. SOS requires that all volunteers attend a volunteer orientation session prior to serving at a site. There is a special need for volunteers willing to work the overnight hours. Interested persons should call Helping Hands of Springfield at 522-0048 and leave a message for the volunteer coordinator.

2. Donating Miscellaneous Supplies and Food to the Agency

Our agency is constantly in need of various supplies and food to support the homeless of Springfield. Below is a listing of just some of our more prominent needs. Please call the SOS Business Office for a more comprehensive list and/or to schedule an appointment to drop off your donation(s). The SOS committee determined that the biggest need of the SOS, besides additional volunteers, is debit cards from the Laundromat at 8th and South Grand - along with small packages of laundry detergent. It is very difficult for these clients to find the extra money to wash their clothing. The debit card works well because it is for that one location and their services. The items in bold are the most needed at this time.

3. Making Financial Contributions

The SOS program and its work to provide shelter, and hospitality to the homeless could not happen without the gracious financial contributions from the friends of SOS. Even a small donation helps the efforts considerably. Checks should be made out to the Springfield Community Federation at 501 South Thirteenth Street, Springfield, IL 62703 with SOS donation written on the memo line.

DONATING A MEAL OR SNACK

The S.O.S. system can offer emergency shelter for up to 38 individuals each night of the winter months. Each evening these persons are provided with a brown bag meal and snack. S.O.S is grateful for the assistance of volunteers to help provide good, nutritious meals to these individuals. Donating a meal not only offers aid to the homeless, it has many positive benefits for those that donate:

• It provides an occasion for individuals, families and groups in the community to fulfill a desire to be of service to those in need.
• It is a wonderful "team building" project for youth, work or church groups.
• It is a terrific opportunity to educate youth and teen groups on both nutrition and the disadvantaged in our area.

Providing a meal for the emergency shelter can be done in many ways. It is necessary to provide enough food for approximately 40 to 50 people.

Here are some examples of what has been done by some of our meal volunteers:

• Preparing "brown bag" meals. (i.e. sandwich, chips, fruit, cookies)
• Purchasing food from fast food restaurants such as hamburgers and fries, buckets of fried chicken and side dishes, sub sandwiches and chips, or pizza.
• Donating fresh fruit or vegetables as a healthy snack alternative.
• Supplying donuts or "'brown bag" breakfasts.

Helpful Hints:

Consider the amounts of people involved in the meal preparation, money available to devote to the meal and time set aside for meal preparation.

• Remember to bring paper plates, cups, plastic silverware, napkins and paper towels for the meal.
• Beverages for meals are always appreciated, such as coffee, tea, punch or individual juices.
• Cookies, Cupcakes, Little Debbie Treats and Pudding Cups are great individual dessert/treat options.
• If your group or organization are not scheduled for the evening shelter shift, meals and snacks may be dropped off any time throughout the day and served by the group on staff

IF YOU OR YOUR GROUP ARE INTERESTED IN DONATING PLEASE CONTACT 217.522.0048