The Gathering Place
How to Get Involved:
Contact: Lindsay Newman (Volunteer Coordinator)
Email: volunteercoordination@gatheringstjohns.ca
Phone Number: (709)753-3234
Website: www.kindnesswanted.ca
Organization Description: The Gathering Place is a Community Health Centre committed to building community, promoting equality, and providing food, clothing, medical and dental help, and counselling services to vulnerable individuals in our community. The programs and services of The Gathering Place are offered primarily to people who are homeless or live in less than desirable housing conditions, people who are often unemployed and to people who do not have adequate social supports at this time in their lives.
Volunteer Activities/Duties: We have many different roles/opportunities available for our volunteers here at The Gathering Place including:
- Dining Room Volunteer: serving Guests their meals during meal times. This can include producing and serving tea/coffee/hot chocolate, interacting with Guests to ask for their tea/coffee order, bringing Guests their plated meals, sanitizing their table space after they leave, and creating a welcoming environment for all Guests.
- Kitchen Volunteer: kitchen volunteers can be plating food on the serving line, operating the dishwasher, or preparing ingredients that the chefs will use to produce each meal (ie. Dicing peppers, measuring flour, portioning out cookie dough, etc.,).
- Shelter Volunteer: shelter volunteers make up the cots in the shelter so that they are clean and ready for sleeping.
- Boutique (Sorting) Volunteer: Sorting volunteers in the boutique sort through clothing/toiletry donations and stock the shelves for Guests.
- Boutique (Operations) Volunteer: Operations volunteers in the boutique assist Guests as the visit the boutique to find new clothes/toiletries.
Commitment: Weekly commitment (ie. Every Thursday from 1-3pm)
Orientation and Training: The orientation is approximately one hour in length where we review key information pertaining to The Gathering Place, as well as the volunteer expectations. Included in this orientation is also a tour of the building to familiarize volunteers with the space.
Other Requirements: Code of Conduct, References. All volunteers must be above the age of 18 and must be double vaccinated.
The Gathering Place is rooted in respect, the promotion of personal dignity, and care for all persons, and ask that volunteers reflect the same values.