Volunteer Your Time Thank you for your interest in volunteering with us! There are lots of positions available for those who want to get involved, utilize their talent and make a difference. Complete our online application here or contact Leah Cerri, our Volunteer Program Coordinator at lcerri@ecs-sf.org or (415) 487-3348. She will be happy to answer your questions and provide you with more information about our volunteer program. ECS volunteers: Share their skills and knowledge Assist seniors and homeless individuals in our programs Help to improve the quality of our clients' lives Participate in programs and events Acquire new skills and experience Provide companionship, energy, time and talent Here are just a few of the ways you can help: Teach someone computer skills Help with a resume Organize an activity Lead a group Help with filing or administrative work Plan a day trip Escort clients to an appointment Assist with large events and parties Support an outreach initiative Teach someone how to read Tutor students who want to get their GED Assist with holiday events and meals Spend time with seniors Help distribute donations Teach an art class Share vocational skills Create a newsletter Prepare and serve meals Assist in special projects and assignments Mentor youth and teens To get involved: Contact Leah Cerri, our Volunteer Program Coordinator at lcerri@ecs-sf.org or (415) 487-3348. She will be happy to answer your questions and provide you with more information about our volunteer program. Frequently Asked Questions 1. What does ECS do? 2. What kinds of things do volunteers at ECS do? 3. I work Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm, can I still volunteer? 4. Is it possible to volunteer with a group of my co-workers, church members or students? 5. I can't commit to a regular schedule, do you have any one-time volunteer opportunities? 6. What do I need to do in order to start volunteering? 7. Once I complete and submit my application, how long until I can start volunteering? Hello and thank you for your interest in volunteering with Episcopal Community Services (ECS)! Everyday, volunteers play a vital role in our mission of helping homeless and very low income people to obtain the services they need. The staff at ECS is truly appreciative and inspired by the level of effort and dedication our volunteers give. We are pleased that you are interested in volunteering with us and we look forward to getting to know you. Listed below are some answers to commonly asked questions about our volunteer program. We have compiled this FAQ to provide you with as much information about our program as we can. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask Leah Cerri, our Volunteer Program Coordinator, at (415) 487-3348. 1. What does ECS do? ECS is committed to helping homeless and low-income individuals to obtain housing, jobs, shelter and services. We accomplish this via our four service programs: 1) our shelter program, in which we operate two full time shelters and a winter interfaith shelter, 2) our housing program, in which we run 10 supportive housing sites, 3) our Skills Center, in which we offer literacy, GED, general education and job assistance classes as well as our successful CHEFS program, and 4) our Senior Center, in which we provide a hot lunch, housing assistance, case management and other services to local seniors. 2. What kinds of things do volunteers at ECS do? Volunteers at ECS do a variety of things, from staffing our meal reception desk at our Senior Center, to planning a holiday party for residents in one of our supportive housing sites. Other types of positions are: doing administrative work, teaching a computer class, teaching an art class, helping to serve a meal, helping to tutor youth in our after-school program, creating a newsletter, mentoring a teen, accompanying clients to a medical appointment, helping with large events, planning an activity for clients, and lots more! We are always looking for volunteers with a skill to share, such as yoga, art, photography, writing, computers, nursing, acupuncture, counseling, massage, or dance. 3. I work Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm, can I still volunteer? Yes! We have volunteer positions at our shelter program in the evenings. We also have tutoring positions in the evening, and have availability for volunteer-led activities or meals in our housing sites. 4. Is it possible to volunteer with a group of my co-workers, church members or students? Yes! We welcome groups of volunteers. If you and a group of friends would like to volunteer together, there are many ways to get involved. Groups can host a party or a holiday event at one of our housing sites, shelters, or our Senior Center. Groups can also prepare and serve a meal for clients at one of our sites. Volunteers can prepare an activity to do with clients, such as an art project, performance, games, craft, or class. Groups of volunteers are always welcome to help with our large events, including our annual fundraising events and those that happen around the holiday season. 5. I can't commit to a regular schedule, do you have any one-time volunteer opportunities? Yes! If you want to volunteer, but can only do so once, we can accommodate your schedule. Many volunteer activities, such as serving a meal, leading clients in an activity, or assisting at a special event do not require an ongoing time commitment and can be done on a one-time basis. 6. What do I need to do in order to start volunteering? The first step is to complete a Volunteer Application. Please be sure to include references. If you have a resume you can send that as well. Once we have received your application and checked your references, the Volunteer Coordinator will schedule an interview with you. The coordinator will talk with you and try and find a position that interests you. After the interview, you must attend an orientation session. These are held on the first Saturday of the month from 12:00 noon until 1:00 pm, and on the third Wednesday of the month, from 6:00 until 7:00 pm. One-time volunteers are not required to attend an orientation session, but we ask that you schedule time to meet with the Volunteer Coordinator a half hour prior to the time you agree to volunteer so that you can have a brief orientation. At the orientation session, you will be given a volunteer manual and forms to complete. You must read the manual prior to your first day of volunteering. The Volunteer Coordinator will meet with you and walk you to your volunteer site on the first day you volunteer, and will assist in your on-site training. 7. Once I complete and submit my application, how long until I can start volunteering? The sooner we receive your application, conduct an interview, locate a position, and you attend an orientation session, the sooner you can get started. Certain positions will also require fingerprinting and TB tests, and the Coordinator will let you know which positions have these requirements. The entire process can take a few weeks, but we will do our best to move things along quickly. Thank you for your interest in volunteering with ECS! We hope that we have answered any questions that you might have about our Volunteer Program. We are proud of the work that we do, and we think that you will find ECS to be a great place to volunteer!