Inn from the Cold
Mission Statement:
Shelter and Comfort to those in Need
Twice a month, we provide a temporary overnight shelter and three meals to the homeless (up to 15 people per night) in our parish hall. There are about 25 positions staffed by volunteers every time we host an IFTC night. The cost of operating an "inn" (food, cleaning supplies, cots, mattresses, linens, etc.) are bourne by the parish, K of C, CWL, and individual donations.
Volunteer Voice Newsletter - Summer 2009
Permanent Shelter Update
On July 29, 2008, the Inn from the Cold Society announced they had completed the purchase of a permanent shelter facility. Please read this thank you letter from the IFTC society for more information.
Permanent shelter Q and A letters:
- Permanent shelter Q and A. [Posted Oct. 29, 2008]
Guests of IFTC
All the guests who take part in the program are screened by program managers in the downtown office of IFTC. This procedure is to ensure that no person who is intoxicated, under the influence of other substances or has unstable behavior due to mental health issues will be allowed to take part in the program. After the screening process is complete a bus picks up the guests to transport them to the parish hall. After the evening, the guests are picked up at 6:30 (7:00 on weekends). This allows volunteers to fulfull their own work and school commitments. It also allows our guests to get to their places of employment.
Volunteer Position Descriptions
Coordinator- Oversees all parts of the program
- Makes sure there are enough volunteers for the program
- That the volunteers will know where, when and how they will be needed
- Sets up and makes the beds
- Sets up tables and puts out towels
- Cooking Team Plans, purchases and cooks meal to be served
- Tidies up the kitchen and dining area
- Washes and puts away dishes
- Each guest will recieve a plastic lunch bag containing two sandwiches, a piece of fruit, juice, and a small treat.
- Volunteers may prepare this at home or at the church kitchen
- Fresh homemade baking for 25 people to be brought to the church kitchen by 6:00pm on the evening of IFTC
- Listen and talk with the guests
- Play card and board games
- Responsible for supervising the facility and guests overnight
- A male and female volunteer must be present
- Makes the breakfast, cleans up the kitchen and dining area
- Hands out the lunchbags
- Takes down the beds and tables
- Puts laundry in plastic bins
- Cleans facility to desired standard
- Puts everything away and makes sure everything is locked up
- Laundry Crew Washes the laundry with bleach and soap with hot water
- Folds the dried laundry and delivers it back to the hall
