Community Meal Service

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THIS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY IS OFFERED EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK

Thank you so much for your interest in volunteering at the Community Meal! Please read the following information about the Community Meal prior to signing up for service.

Community Meal Volunteer Requirements

• Must follow dress code: long pants (no shorts, skirts, or leggings), shirt with sleeves (no tank tops or crop tops), closed toe shoes
• Must be willing to serve in all areas of the Community Meal and at the discretion of the Dining staff
• Must be able to stand for 2 hours
• Must be able to lift 20 lbs.
• Must be 14 or older

We ask volunteers to arrive 15 minutes prior to their scheduled shift to allow time for check in. PLEASE NOTE: due to the nature of our operations, we are unable to accept volunteers that arrive more than 15 minutes after their scheduled shift.

Community Meal Volunteer Roles

Volunteers are needed to serve in a variety of roles at the Community Meal! You will be assigned a role when you arrive for service. We appreciate your flexibility in this process.

Volunteers could have the following assignments:

• Serving guests
• Taking dishes to breakdown stations
• Sanitizing tables
• Receiving dishes to prepare for washing
• Taking tickets
• Giving water to guests

Who You Will Interact with in the Community Meal

As a volunteer at the Community Meal you will serve individuals and families seeking a hot meal. Although the Community Meal is free and open to the public, many of the clients we serve are experiencing homelessness. During the meal, you will also interact with other volunteers, Catholic Charities staff, and participants in the Renewing Hope Program (RHP). RHP’s are clients who are working to overcome homelessness by staying on the Catholic Charities campus for an extended period of time, completing life skills classes, and apprenticeship trainings at Catholic Charities. They are not staff members and should not be referred to when seeking information about your volunteer assignment. RHP’s can be identified by their badges which have a large red or blue bar on the top or bottom.

Please note our clients come from a variety of life experiences and circumstances. If you have a questionable or uncomfortable interaction with a client, notify a Catholic Charities staff member immediately.

Community Meal Safety

To maintain a safe environment for volunteers are asked to do the following:

1. Maintain social distancing relevant to your assigned volunteer role
2. Wear gloves for the duration of service
3. Follow all food safety guidelines as instructed by CCSN staff

Community Meal FAQ

• Who does the Community Meal serve? The Community Meal is free and open to the public and serves anyone in need of a meal including families, seniors, and individuals.
• How many people utilize the Community Meal each day? An average of 400 people receive a hot meal each day.
• Can guests take food to go? Due to food safety, guests may only take bottled water and whole fruits with a skin (ex. apples, oranges, bananas) to go.
• Can volunteers receive food from the Community Meal? To avoid any potential conflict of interest, volunteers may not receive free services at CCSN.

If you have questions e-mail volunteer@catholiccharities.com or call 702-387-4733.