Village House
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St. Francis Hosts the Village House Day Shelter
February 9 - March 4, 2020 Sign-up to volunteer now! |
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Village House: An Interfaith Shelter of Hope is a daytime center for as many as 15 delightful, medically fragile women. St. Francis hosts the shelter in September and February every year but you can help no matter where the shelter is each month. This remarkable effort to show God’s love provides a caring and loving environment. It’s the first 24-hour “safe space” some guests have had in years. More than 80 St. Francis members, along with neighbors and friends from Willow Glen and beyond, volunteered during our shelter-hosting rotation.
Volunteers listen to stories. They provide feedback for guests attending community college or preparing for a job interview. Volunteers stay overnight or just for two hours. Many come away inspired by the shelter guests. If your job keeps you busy during the day, no problem! You can sign up to provide lunch or help at the overnight shelter hosted by our neighbors, Stone Church of Willow Glen (volunteer HERE).
To make a financial contribution, write a check to St. Francis, designating “Village House”, or contribute online HERE
Encourage others to volunteer. We’re happy to have even more friends and neighbors helping again this year. Please ask them. And please let us know about other faith communities interested in hosting an overnight or daytime shelter.
Pray for our guests and the shelter’s success. Through our shelter and volunteers, God is making a difference in these ladies’ lives.
Questions? contact Brian Kolb or Leah Tedeschi.
Questions about Serving at Village House:
What do volunteers do?
Volunteers provide a welcoming, friendly but non-intrusive presence. They will be paired with a volunteer supervisor for each shift. Volunteers ask guests to sign in and out, and help serve and clean up lunch. They may dine with the guests and listen to stories. They may provide feedback for guests who are attending community college or preparing for a job interview. Many volunteers come away inspired by the shelter guests. Sometimes volunteers are simply present in the shelter space so that guests have a safe space to nap, use the computer, or enjoy a cup of coffee and some down time. Volunteers may wish to bring reading material or a quiet activity.
Where do I show up to volunteer?
St. Francis Episcopal Church of Willow Glen is located at 1205 Pine Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125. You may park in our lot or on the street. Follow the signs for Village House. Most often, we are in the Wickham Room, down the hall from the office.
What if I can't volunteer during the day?
Sign up to bring lunch. You can prepare or purchase lunch and deliver it to St. Francis in the morning for our guests to enjoy later in the day. See the Lunch Volunteer entries for each day on Signup.com
What if I want to do even more?
You can sign up to be a Shift supervisors. In this role, a volunteer would have a few extra responsibilities, such as reviewing the training video, logging basic information for others, assisting with setup or cleanup, and committing to a longer shift (three or four hours). If you have volunteered before, please consider serving as a shift supervisor.
Can teens volunteer and earn service hours?
Absolutely! We welcome teen volunteers with parent permission. They should sign up for a 1.5-2 hour shift any time the shelter is open. They are also welcome to volunteer with a friend (with parent permission). See the Signup.com page and look under each day for a Teen Volunteer sign-up option.
Can other Churches host Village House?
If you know of any faith communities that may be willing to host a daytime shelter, please contact Kelly Castellon or Chris Peacock.
Volunteers listen to stories. They provide feedback for guests attending community college or preparing for a job interview. Volunteers stay overnight or just for two hours. Many come away inspired by the shelter guests. If your job keeps you busy during the day, no problem! You can sign up to provide lunch or help at the overnight shelter hosted by our neighbors, Stone Church of Willow Glen (volunteer HERE).
To make a financial contribution, write a check to St. Francis, designating “Village House”, or contribute online HERE
Encourage others to volunteer. We’re happy to have even more friends and neighbors helping again this year. Please ask them. And please let us know about other faith communities interested in hosting an overnight or daytime shelter.
Pray for our guests and the shelter’s success. Through our shelter and volunteers, God is making a difference in these ladies’ lives.
Questions? contact Brian Kolb or Leah Tedeschi.
Questions about Serving at Village House:
What do volunteers do?
Volunteers provide a welcoming, friendly but non-intrusive presence. They will be paired with a volunteer supervisor for each shift. Volunteers ask guests to sign in and out, and help serve and clean up lunch. They may dine with the guests and listen to stories. They may provide feedback for guests who are attending community college or preparing for a job interview. Many volunteers come away inspired by the shelter guests. Sometimes volunteers are simply present in the shelter space so that guests have a safe space to nap, use the computer, or enjoy a cup of coffee and some down time. Volunteers may wish to bring reading material or a quiet activity.
Where do I show up to volunteer?
St. Francis Episcopal Church of Willow Glen is located at 1205 Pine Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125. You may park in our lot or on the street. Follow the signs for Village House. Most often, we are in the Wickham Room, down the hall from the office.
What if I can't volunteer during the day?
Sign up to bring lunch. You can prepare or purchase lunch and deliver it to St. Francis in the morning for our guests to enjoy later in the day. See the Lunch Volunteer entries for each day on Signup.com
What if I want to do even more?
You can sign up to be a Shift supervisors. In this role, a volunteer would have a few extra responsibilities, such as reviewing the training video, logging basic information for others, assisting with setup or cleanup, and committing to a longer shift (three or four hours). If you have volunteered before, please consider serving as a shift supervisor.
Can teens volunteer and earn service hours?
Absolutely! We welcome teen volunteers with parent permission. They should sign up for a 1.5-2 hour shift any time the shelter is open. They are also welcome to volunteer with a friend (with parent permission). See the Signup.com page and look under each day for a Teen Volunteer sign-up option.
Can other Churches host Village House?
If you know of any faith communities that may be willing to host a daytime shelter, please contact Kelly Castellon or Chris Peacock.
