Advocate Application

Thank You for your interest in volunteering with Teen Feed - Proud to be a part of feeding the homeless since 1986 Teen Feed advocates are important members of our dinner program team and are responsible for providing consistent relationship, trusting support, and help in distributing basic needs at the Teen Feed dinner program. Advocates commit to one night per week for one year and receive training in de - escalation, anti - oppression, and Intro to Youth Homelessness. Please send questions to volunteercoordinator@teenfeed.org Through service at Teen Feed, we hope to reinforce values of equity, fairness, and justice to create a compassionate and inclusive community, challenge stereotypes, and raise awareness about youth homelessness. Teen Feed’s guests represent diversity in experience, background, age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, etc. Teen Feed aims to create a volunteer corps reflective of the diversity of our youth - those who represent diverse identities and/or have lived experience with homelessness/housing insecurity are highly encouraged to apply. Please complete the entire application in order to move forward with your volunteer application process.

First Name

Last Name

Preferred Pronouns (she/her he/him they/them...)

Primary Phone

Primary Email

Primary Street

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Birthdate (please use MM/dd/yyyy)

Highest Level of Education

Major/Field of Study

Application Date
MM/dd/yyyy

Relevant Experience
(work/volunteer locations and duties)

Other Skills/Interests

Check if you are interested in using these skills/interests outside of your regularly scheduled Advocate times.

Yes, I am interested in Other Teen Feed Volunteer Programs! Send me more info.

How did you hear about Teen Feed?

What draws you to work with homeless youth and young adults?

What do you consider to be your greatest strengths? How will you use these strengths in your role at Teen Feed?

How can we best support you in your volunteer role? What helps you feel capable, motivated, and rewarded? (i.e. additional trainings? regular check - ins? a high five? constructive feedback?

Tell us a little about how you handle stress and/or conflict. Are you able to communicate your boundaries and/or need for support?

What is your understanding of how systems of oppression (systemic racism, sexism, ableism) affect youth and young adult homelessness? How will your apply an anti - oppression lens to your work with Teen Feed's young people?

What is your understanding of some of issues affecting homeless young people? What are some of the societal barriers preventing young people from achieving housing, employment, or individual goals? Please give two examples to demonstrate your current understanding.

What is your understanding of factors (individual, familial, societal) that can lead to youth homelessness? Please give two examples to demonstrate your current understanding.

Since the COVID crisis, Teen Feed has converted into a completely To Go meal provider. Advocates occupy multiple roles in making sure that our dinner service runs smoothly. Please indicate below which role you are primarily interested in. Description of roles as follows:
1) Food Service and Basic Needs Advocate. These advocates function mainly inside the building, helping to distribute basic items and meet needs. Contact with guests is focused more on meeting needs, majority of work is in direct collaboration with volunteer team inside service site
2) Outside Support Advocate. These advocates spend as much of their time as possible outside interacting with guests, building relationships, and passing out PPE and other basic needs. They are the main relationship and trust building component to Teen Feed programming.

Since COVID, Teen Feed has implemented a number of safety and sanitation protocols. Once you submit this application, you will be sent follow up information including a COVID safety tool kit. Do you have any initial safety questions?

Background Check Release:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JIVdlysTkQjrjvgEAtxjFe1PltMDTptZ/view?usp=sharing

Please complete the background check form available at the link above and upload your completed form.
*Please note - you do not need to have a clean background check in order to qualify to be an advocate!
DO NOT SUBMIT ANY $! Just fill out the top part and re - attach the form to this question

Healthy Boundaries Document:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ai6kUpBw9UGgUEUp6sbOhVch427tShuX/view?usp=sharing

Please read and sign the agreement available at the link below. Once signed, please upload this document.

Statement of Commitment Teen Feed advocate teams are a very passionate and select groups, and volunteers are highly dependent on each other for support, with ultra-reliable attendance. Advocates expect their team members to fully dedicate to their shifts during their tenure. Likewise, our youth get to know and depend on your attendance. Teen Feed therefore requires a one year commitment to the advocate position. Can you make this commitment?

Yes, I am committed!

E-Signature (Full Name)

Thank You again for your interest and taking the time to fill out our Advocate application.
A Teen Feed Staff member will be in contact if you are a good fit for our team.

Teen Feed
4740B University Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 522-4366
teenfeed.org

Questions about the position?
Email volunteercoordinator@teenfeed.org

Contact Information