Volunteer Guide 1

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WELCOME

We extend a warm welcome to each of our many devoted volunteers and we thank you.

Because of you, our volunteers, St. Malachi Church has become, through the years, a sign of hope for those who are hungry. This ministry would not exist without you.

DONORS

We are also grateful to all who help us buy coffee, donuts,
peanut butter bologna, bread, along with cups, plastic spoons arid napkins.

Donations to the Food Fund enable us to buy these things. We are also grateful for all the donated foods which we use whenever they come in. Among our favorites are party trays, fruit, bread, donuts, creamy peanut butter and soup.

WHY WE DO IT

We believe that by serving others, we serve Christ, for He said, what you do for the least of my brothers and sisters, you do unto me.

We know that homeless and other poor people who come to us are hungry and 'there but for the grace of God, go I." And so we give what we can and do not judge. We give food and drink We also give a kind word, a gentle attitude, and a generous ear.

We do this because God loves us and gives us the opportunity to share God's love with our brothers and sisters.

SIGNING UP TO VOLUNTEER

Volunteers sign up for certain hours and days each week or each month, depending on their schedule.

It is important to be in the kitchen when you say you are going to be there. If you know you can't come at a particular time, please call St. Malachi (861-5343) before that day so that a substitute can be scheduled.

Better yet ... get a substitute you know to take your place! Please call Sr. Francis to let her know who the substitute is.

If you can no longer volunteer, please tell us.

Some people volunteer to pick up day-old donuts and bring them to our kitchen. We are grateful for this extremely valuable service.

WHAT WE DO

We serve sandwiches, coffee and donuts daily, Monday through Saturday, from 8:30 AM until 3:00 PM. On Sundays and Holidays, the hours are from 8:30 AM until 1:00 PM We serve from the back porch window of the rectory (the house next to (north of) the church.)

Volunteers work with one or two other people in two shifts:

Weekdays:	8:30 AM—Noon	Noon—3:00 PM
Sundays & Holidays:	8:30—10:30 AM	10:30— 1:00 PM

Procedures:

1. Volunteers who arrive for the first shut should make coffee Put approximately 5 oz of instant coffee (a little more than 1/2 a jar) into a pot containing 60 cups of water. The water should have been already plugged in and be hot by the time the volunteers arrive.

2. Make more coffee as needed throughout the shift and make sure there is enough for the shift coming after you.

3. Greet each person in a warm friendly way.

4. Donuts, which come on a bakery tray should be placed in aluminum pans, covered with a plastic bag and put on the shelves in the back door vestibule.

5. Each person is offered a donut, cup of coffee and either a peanut butter or meat (usually bologna) sandwich with a napkin. Sometimes a person asks for a cup of water instead of coffee. Children are given a cup of milk. Save cups for refills

6. Soap arid matches are available by request every day; razors are available every other day. ("Razor days" are shown by the red line on the calendar on the refrigerator.)

7. Often, extra donuts are available. Either volunteers distribute these "seconds" or a bowl of "seconds" is placed at the window for individuals to serve themselves.

8. Additional food (e.g. Potato salad, pizza etc.) is distributed as available. Soup is served on very cold days.

9. If we have enough bread for the next day's sandwiches, loaves of bread can be given on request (from the rectory front door).

WHERE THINGS ARE KEPT

Donuts: donut racks in back door vestibule, pans above

Bread: vestibule at front door

Meat: refrigerator in hall

Coffee & cups: cupboard above sink and coffeepots

Napkins, peanut butter & jelly: cupboard under sink

Matches: top drawer of small cabinet next to refrigerator (serving counter)

Razors: middle drawer of small cabinet next to refrigerator (serving counter)

Soap: bottom drawer of small cabinet next to refrigerator (serving counter)

Plastic bags/garbage bags: left hand side of base cabinet next to the radiator

Saint Malachi

HELPFUL GUIDELINES

1. Clothes are given out by request Mondays through Fridays Unless there is a emergency or other serious reason, no clothes are given out on Saturdays and Sundays.

2. Unless there is a legitimate reason for giving more than one, only one sandwich is given to each person during a shift.

3. Children are not served unless they are accompanied by an adult.

4. Wash all donut pans thoroughly and return them to the back door vestibule above the donut racks.

5. When making meat sandwiches, use at least two slices of meat between slices of bread. If the meat is sliced very thin, several slices may be needed.

6. When making peanut butler sandwiches, spread peanut butter thoroughly on both pieces of bread. Spread about a teaspoon of jelly on one piece of bread and put the two pieces together. This will help prevent the jelly from "soaking through" the bread.

7. If you used the oven or any burners, turn the gas off when you are finished using them

8. Leave the kitchen in as good or better condition than you found it. Wash, dry and put away any dish, pan or utensil used.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT DAY

If you are serving on the second shift, before you leave, be sure things are ready for the next morning.

1. Unplug the cords to the coffee pot from the outlets.

2. Empty, wash and fill (to about 1 1/2" from the top) coffee pots with cold water. Leave the coffee pots unplugged, but with the "on switch" ON.

3. Be sure there are eight loaves of meat sandwiches and two loaves of peanut butter sandwiches ready in the refrigerator (but not more than that).

4. Sweep and mop the floor.

5. Wash off counters, table arid chairs.

6. Used towels arid cloths can be put on the washing machine in the back vestibule.

7. Pull out and tie the garbage bag in the waste basket; place it outside the door. Put a new garbage bag in the wastebasket.

8. Wash all donut pans thoroughly, dry them and return them to the back door vestibule above the donut racks.

9. Make sure that Mr. Coffee unit is unplugged and any leftover coffee is poured out. Empty the coffee grounds into the trash and rinse out coffee pot.

SAFETY DIRECTIVES

1. The safety of all persons -- volunteers and guests -- is the first and highest priority.

2. Do not let anyone in the house unless they belong. People who belong are staff, maintenance personnel, St. Malachi parishioners and community members, volunteers and donors. If you are unsure, ask a staff person.

3. If a problem arises at the window that no one in the kitchen knows how to handle or what to do, close the window and ask a staff person to come to the kitchen. You will be able to solve most problems yourself with experience.

4. In case of emergency, notify a staff member immediately. If no staff member is available, take the initiative to resolve the crisis. If needed, do not hesitate to call "911."

Rectory Address:

St. Malachi Church
2459 Washington Ave. (W. 25 & Detroit)
(216) 861-5343

TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS

1. Be polite and speak in a quiet firm voice. Continue to show respect to the other person, even if it is not being shown to you. Showing anger or hostility usually only makes the situation worse.
2. A person causing trouble, using foul or abusive language or being disruptive should be asked to leave immediately.
3. Quietly but firmly enforce the policies. Do not let yourself get into a bargaining situation over what you can or cannot do.
4. If you don't know what to do or feel you cannot handle a situation, ask for help.
5. Humor can be an effective way to disarm a situation and restore peace.

STANDARDS FOR VOLUNTEERS

1. Wear comfortable, modest and washable clothes without excessive jewelry.

2. Come a few minutes early for your shift, so you can be informed about any special instructions or situations. Coats can be put on the rack; purses should be placed out of sight in the pantry.

3. Wash your hands thoroughly when you arrive and whenever you move from task to task (e.g. from serving at the window to making sandwiches, from taking in a delivery to wiping off the table, from putting donuts in pans to re-supplying the window).

4. When there are two or three volunteers working in the kitchen, take turns distributing the food and preparing it.

5. When speaking with our guests at the window or with other volunteers, try to maintain a quiet demeanor and a positive attitude.

6. If you begin feeling out of sorts, upset, angry or negative with a particular person or a situation, take time off. take a break.

7. Do not give out money when you are in the rectory or going to and from the car. St Malachi policy is never to give money (cash or change) for any reason. We do not provide bus tickets.