Spring shifts will begin with the dinner shift on Wednesday, February 15th and end with the breakfast shift on Thursday, April 15th. You will not be responsible for your shift during Spring Break (March 15th- 24th).
You are responsible for coming to your shift every week during this time – this commitment means you must be present or find a substitute to take your place (anyone can sub for you, even if they have never worked at the shelter!). HSHS relies on its volunteers- you are the reason our shelter is able to stay open.
If you are a new volunteer, we ask that you attend one of our training sessions so you can get to know our safety policies and rules. Training days and times will be emailed out to volunteers closer to February 8th.
Interested in applying as a group? Click here.
DESCRIPTION of SHIFTS
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There are 4 shifts:
Dinner: 6:45 PM - 9:15 PM
Dinner volunteers have a wide variety of tasks, from food salvaging from the Harvard dining halls, cooking dinner, and preparing the shelter for the arrival of guests, to greeting guests as they arrive, serving dinner, and running plates of food outside to those who are hungry but do not have a bed reserved for the night.
Evening: 9:00 PM - 11:15 PM
Although not all fun and games–volunteers of this shift are mainly responsible for helping clean up after dinner–this shift is often cited as the most relaxing and laid-back. Other than maintenance chores such as laundry and dishes, volunteers are free to sit back, chat, play cards or board games, or watch TV and movies with the guests.
Overnight: 11:30 PM - 9:00 AM
Often dubbed the hardcore volunteers, overnighters work the longest shift. Other than assisting the breakfast volunteers with morning chores, however, tasks on this shift tend not to be demanding. Awake shifts are drawn up by the overnight supervisors so that everyone has scheduled sleep times. While overnight shifts are perhaps one of the most demanding shifts, many volunteers find them to be one of the most fulfilling. Note: Friday overnight shift runs from 11 PM – 9:30 AM.
Breakfast: 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Breakfast volunteers, arriving between 6 AM and 6:30 AM, help the overnight volunteers cook breakfast for the guests and clean up the shelter. The shift ends when the shelter has been swept, mopped, and scrubbed down. Note: Saturday morning breakfast shift runs from 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM.
Please email us at hshs.volunteer@gmail.com with any questions.