Volunteering - COVID 19 UPDATE

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the following measures are being taken to ensure the safety of our staff, clients, and volunteers:

1. Only 3-5 volunteers for each meal service (lunch and dinner) will be allowed in the kitchen at one time to minimize contact and keep traffic low within the building. We welcome any groups that still want to provide help, however, we ask that larger groups contact Eric, our Volunteer Coordinator, to see if there is the potential to split their members up into two separate dates or times.

2. Our meals will be packaged in a take-out format for the time being. Shelter House staff will serve these meals to the general community who use our services in a separate area from the kitchen.

3. If able, we would love it if groups are able to provide take-out containers to go with any planned meals. For example, a soup or stew could be packaged in empty yogurt containers.

4. With the increased demand on our meal services, we also ask groups to prepare a quantity of food that will serve approximately 200 people.

Community Kitchen

Do you love to cook? Volunteer to prepare delicious, healthy choices for up to 150 people for Shelter House’s two daily hot meals. Our storage room is well stocked with perishable and non-perishable food and our professional kitchen has soup kettles, a cook top, a convection oven, a walk in fridge and a freezer and much more!

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Life Enrichment Volunteers

Do you like helping people with meaningful activities? Enrichment activities are valuable for people who struggle with conventional forms of communication. Sharing creative activities such as knitting, beading and art making can help to increase confidence, rebuild self-esteem and develop skills. A six-month commitment is required to build familiarity.

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Volunteer Drivers

Use the Shelter House van to pick up much needed food from donor restaurants and grocery stores in Thunder Bay. This task is done 7 days a week, with the exception of holidays. We provide the van, the gas, and driving route. All you need is a valid Class G license and the ability to be added to Shelter House’s insurance policy.

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General Volunteer

At Shelter House’s 24-hour facility there’s always so much that needs to get done. We welcome all the help we can get for everyday jobs such as cleaning, doing laundry, packaging sandwiches and pastries for food at the door, and sorting and putting away food after a food drive.

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Fundraising and Events

Shelter House Thunder Bay relies heavily on the generosity of our community to help us reach or annual fundraising goal of $500,000. You can help us reach this goal by getting involved through our fundraising events, creating your own or helping one of the many 3rd party events hosted on our behalf.

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Interested in volunteering?

If at any point you said to yourself, “I CAN DO THAT!”, we would like to hear from you! Shelter House relies heavily on the kindness and generosity of community members, a little help goes a long way!

Please fill out the volunteer form below. For more information, please email volunteer@shelterhouse.on.ca

Volunteer Application Form

Contact Information

What is your reason for volunteering?
What type of volunteering work interests you?
What is the best way to reach you?

Waiver

THIS DOCUMENT AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS
BY SIGNING THIS DOCUMENT YOU GIVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO SUE

Thunder Bay Emergency Shelter Inc. (“Shelter House”) and its directors, officers, employees, representatives, officials
and agents (collectively referred to as the “Releasees”)

I wish to volunteer at Shelter House. As a volunteer I may work in the kitchen preparing and serving food. I may engage
in clean-up in the kitchen or elsewhere. I may load and unload supplies. I may participate or volunteer in offsite
fundraising events. Irrespective of which volunteer duties I am assigned, I will be in regular contact with the homeless
population that Shelter House serves and other volunteers.

I understand that Shelter House services the homeless population of Thunder Bay. I am aware that the population that
Shelter House serves live in extreme poverty. Those who live in extreme poverty often suffer from: mental and/or
physical illness, lack of access to regular medical care and over-representation in the criminal justice system. The
clientele of Shelter House can be unpredictable and volatile.

I am aware that volunteers at Shelter House are welcome irrespective of whether they have a criminal record. I am
aware that I may be volunteering with individuals who have been convicted of crimes under the Criminal Code.
I understand that my decision to volunteer at Shelter House has the potential to put me at risk of death, injury, illness,
loss or damage to my person or property because of the nature of the work of Shelter House and the population it
serves. I accept these risks and agree to release, save harmless and indemnify the Releasees from and against any and
all claims, actions, costs, expenses, demands, complaints of any kind whatsoever in respect of liability for any death,
illness, injury, loss or damages of any kind whatsoever that my person or property may suffer while acting as a volunteer
for Shelter House or arising from my decision to act as a volunteer for Shelter House or arising from any negligence on
the part of the Releasees.

I agree that this Release and Indemnity shall bind myself, my heirs, executors, administrators and assigns. I have read
this Release and Indemnity and I understand it. I understand that this Release and Indemnity eliminates my right to
take legal action against the Releasees for death, illness, injury, loss or damages of any kind whatsoever that I suffer or
my property suffers arising from or relating in any way to my decision to volunteer or participate in activities with
Shelter House.

Furthermore, I hereby grant Shelter House the irrevocable right to use in any way they see fit, for the purpose of
publicizing and advertising without restriction, me and my child(ren)’s name, face and/or voice.

Sending