Susquehanna Harbor Safe Haven Sign Up
Sign Up Sheet created by Corinne Rebinski
Volunteer Orientation/ Checklist Susquehanna Harbor Safe Haven
Thank you for volunteering!
1. Directions:
Please Note we are at Susquehanna Harbor Safe Haven; see below for directions.
Susquehanna Harbor Safe Haven at 1805 North 12th Street (not GPS friendly)
Please note that you will never drive on 12th to get to this location. If you are traveling North on Cameron from downtown Harrisburg, you want to turn right on Kelker (about 3 blocks south of McClay; look for the Wordsworth sign too) and it is the last building on the left, pull into the drive and drive to the north side (back) of the building into the parking lot. The shelter is separate from Susquehanna Safe Haven and is the large room closest to the parking lot in back. There is a door into this area off the parking lot through which the men will enter. You need to enter through the main building door.
Be sure to bring your own sleeping bag, etc.
2. Arrive by 7:30 PM. Upon arriving, volunteers should enter the building through the Safe Haven entrance ( front door) and sign in. Volunteers can put their sleeping bags etc in the winter shelter "office" Shelter volunteers should respect the privacy of the Safe Haven residents by not being in the Safe Haven facility except for signing in.
. Read and become familiar with the notebook in the office. Sign in and see if there are any important notes from the previous night. Add any notes you feel are important for the night you volunteered
. Please take time to Read the Rules for Guests in the Shelter Notebook.
3. We strongly recommend that you lay out the mattresses (keep the space by the door to the kitchen open) and stack the blankets by the entrance to the large room. 2 blankets per person There are 25 mattresses with two blankets each to be put out prior to admitting our guests
4. All supplies are in the closet. The key for the door should be in the notebook. DO NOT LEAVE WITH THIS KEY
Coffee needs to be made; (One person can make coffee, one can lay out blankets)
One pot is for coffee, one pot is for hot water.
- fill the coffee pots with water using the container in the "office". You can get water in the bathroom sink. Unlike last year it is not necessary to use the kitchen at Susquehanna Harbor Safe Haven .
- coffee is in the supply closet. Key for the door is in the note book in the office. Use the coffee measuring cup in the office.
. Set out the following or refill with supplies in the supply closet,
- approx. 20 coffee cups,
- stirrers,
- packets of sugar and creamer - keep in mind the more we put out the more will be used. Keep an eye on this and you can always refill if necessary.
- tea bags
- napkins
- approx. 20 granola bars
- hot chocolate packets - again approx 20 because as many as you put out will be taken.
Keep an eye on the supplies, refill as necessary.
5. Staff from CCU will check in the guests. We suggest not letting anyone in until the CCU staff is ready. The usual time to let residents in is 8 PM. The men start gathering outside in early evening. On extremely cold nights, rain or snow, you can let folks in. Ask them to just wait in the lobby area until the CCU staff member is ready to check them in.
CCU will be there from 8:00 to 9:30 PM or 10, and will handle intake, referrals or any other issues that come up.
The intake person will assign alarm clocks to people who need to wake up early for work. These must be returned on departure.
6. Make yourself at ease with guests - engage in conversation
Feel free to mingle with the guests but do not;
- give them money,
- give them a ride in the morning
- or promise to do something which is not allowed (check book in the office)
For persons who ask for assistance, ask them to talk to the CCU staff who are knowledgeable about what's available.
- This is for your safety and theirs.
7. 9:15-9:30PM. Smoke break. Begin to turn lights down. This is a good time to clean out the coffee pots and get them set up for the morning coffee. Please clean up after yourself in the kitchen.
10:00PM. Lights out. Guests should stay quiet. They may not leave the sleep area except to go to the lavatory.
10:00PM - 6:30AM. No one should be admitted after 10:00 PM. Refer folks who do show up after 10 pm to Bethesda Mission.
8. 5:45AM. Begin coffee making (regular coffee) and hot water. No hot chocolate or snacks in AM. Unplug and clean coffee pot after residents have left.
6:15AM. Wake up all guests by slowly turning on lights. Set out coffee/tea. You may need to give them some reminders to get up at 6:35 and 6:45 AM. Unlock closet in morning. Be sure they spray pads with Lysol , fold blankets and stack in the closet. Be sure they pack up and take all their own stuff. Anything left behind will be discarded.
9. 7:00AM. Clean coffee pot and the serving tables. Be sure all guests have left (check rest rooms). Make notes in the Notebook and store it with the file box in their designated place.
10. Sweep floor. If the floor is wet and you have time, you can mop.
Thank you for volunteering; we hope that you will feel it is worth the sacrifice of your time.
Ira Packman
571-5496
Corinne Rebinski
798-4890
