The city’s winter emergency shelter is in dire need of volunteers to staff the Community Building on nights when the temperature drops below 35°.
Part-time positions paying $18 per hour are also available. Find more information at this link — look for “Winter Emergency Shelter Laborer.”
“Each night it is open, the shelter needs at least three volunteers per shift to work with staff for evening check-in, overnight supervision and morning cleanup,” according to a news release from the city. “As numbers grow for those using the shelter, the number of volunteers needed will also increase to meet within the 1 to 10 ratio the shelter operates.
If the city doesn’t secure the minimum number of volunteers 24 hours ahead of time, the shelter won’t open the next day, according to the release.
“About half of those who inquire about volunteering have actively volunteered for a shift at the overnight shelter. However, many volunteers haven’t been able to volunteer due to shifts being canceled because of the warmer than normal weather we have been experiencing, which has also led to a reluctance for volunteering,” the release continued.
When it opens, the shelter operates from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. at the Community Building, 115 W. 11th St. Volunteer shifts are from 7 to 11 p.m., 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. and 5 to 8 a.m.
Those interested in volunteering can fill out a form at this link. Proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 is required upon volunteers’ first shifts.
More information about volunteer shifts and their duties is available at this link.
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More local government coverage:
Mark Potts/Lawrence Times
Carter Gaskins/Lawrence Times
