St. Nicholas Laurel Winter Shelter 2017 Information Sheet
12/1/16
The Laurel Winter Shelter is a community outreach program undertaken by various faith congregations in the Laurel area. The purpose of the program is to provide a safe, warm shelter for homeless men and women during the winter. St. Nicholas will host a men’s shelter the week of January 15 to January 22, 2017.
Many volunteers are needed. This is a project for the whole St. Nicholas community. Every parishioner has a role to play, be it as a prayer partner, or active participant in one of the roles below:
FOOD: Each evening meal has a “team” (meal supervisor and a cooking/serving crew). Meal team members prepare food at home and bring to the church and help serve dinner. Volunteers are also needed on selected nights to bring breakfast items, bag lunches, snack items, or fresh fruit.
EVENING SHIFT: Individuals who will monitor the shelter and assist administrative staff as needed with check-in. This is a four hour shift from 6:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. Two to three volunteers are needed for each evening.
OVERNIGHT SHIFT: Individuals who will assist the VIC to monitor the shelter during the night, and clean up and close the shelter the following morning. Shift is from 10:00 p.m. – 7:30 a.m. Three volunteers are needed each night. The Archdiocese requires that at least one make volunteer be present at the shelter at all times.
VOLUNTEER-IN-CHARGE (VIC): The individual in charge of the shelter operation form 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. Volunteer must be over 21 years of age, preferably with past overnight experience working the shelter.
LAUNDRY: Volunteers are needed to do the personal laundry of the guest during the week, and to wash bed linens and towels/washcloths on Sunday, Jan 22nd.
SUPPLIES: Resource volunteers who will respond to the need for supplies for serving meals, beverages, cleaning supplies or whatever need arises.
SHELTER SETUP/TAKE DOWN: Several volunteers are needed after the 11:30 Mass on Sunday, Jan 15th to set up the church into its shelter configuration. Then volunteers are needed on Sunday, Jan 22nd, from 6:00 to 7:30 a.m., to clean and return the church to its pre-shelter configuration, in time for 8 a.m. Mass.
Please note: All shelter volunteers in the shelter during operation hours (6:30 p.m. to 7 a.m.) must be atleast 18 years of age.
Contact Information
- Tom and Karen Arnold: 301-633-7795 (Coordinators)
- Mary and Rick Boivin: 301-490-7207 (Assistant coordinators)
- Liz Hobbins 301-776-1071 (Food Coordinator)
Additional information is also available on the St. Nicholas website