Empowering The Masses Volunteer Covid19 Guidelines
Volunteers: Our work continues
Empowering the Masses appreciates your services, and we will do our utmost to ensure that your volunteer experience is rewarding, productive and safe. We are committed to respecting your skills and individual needs within the limitation of these requirements. We ask that you treat each volunteer shift as you would a normal job, and your cooperation in following these guidelines:
• Follow staff instruction and complete duties as assigned. Ask for help, as needed. Report possible hazards or unsafe activities to staff. Volunteers should arrive promptly and if leaving before the end of a shift must advise staff. Volunteer schedules are provided on a temporary basis and no long-term expectations or agreements exist.
• Volunteers may be required to submit references. Anyone under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol will not be permitted to volunteer.
• Wash hands before beginning your shift, after breaks, smoking or returning from the restroom. All Volunteers are always required to wear a mask. Mask must cover the nose and mouth.
• Be safe. Use proper techniques when lifting things, using your legs to push upwards, keeping your back straight and body balanced. Solicit the help of another person to lift objects over 20 pounds. Ask for help if you need assistance.
• Supplies or food of any kind may not be taken from the program without permission. Unauthorized possession will be considered stealing and will lead to immediate discontinuation of volunteering.
• Be polite, pleasant, and enthusiastic at all times while working as a representative of our organization. Aggressive or pushy behavior and harassment of any kind is not tolerated by staff or volunteers. Any behavior intended to create discord or restricting volunteers or staff from working will not be tolerated. Report incidents immediately to the Executive Director.
• 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are subject to limits or absolute prohibitions on engaging in political activities and risk loss of status as tax exempt status if violated. As a nonprofit organization we ask that you avoid becoming involved in any political discussions.
• Youth volunteers under the age of 18 must have guardian permission in order to volunteer. Adult supervision may be required for youth volunteers under the age of 14.
• All personal belongings, purses, backpacks, computers, etc., should be left in your vehicle. Empowering the Masses assumes no responsibility for damage to or loss of personal property of volunteers.
Empowering The Masses is continuing to serve clients during the Covid-19 outbreak. To ensure the health and safety of clients, volunteers and staff, we implemented the following procedures:
• Pantry clients stay in their cars and we bring groceries them.
• To limit interactions between volunteers, clients and staff, we have created a “Drive-Up” Pantry.
• Pantry clients will not enter the building but stay protected in their cars until they can pull up to a loading dock that opens onto Empowering The Masses’ front parking lot.
• Clients pick up pre-packaged boxes containing a nutritious balance of food for each household member.
To ensure the safety and health of our clients, volunteers and staff, we are:
• Taking necessary measures to ensure all employees, visitors, and persons served who are experiencing any symptoms of illness stay home and avoid contact
• Following recommendations from the CDC to help stop the spread of germs and have posted their guidelines in public areas as a reminder for those coming to Empowering The Masses
• Asking volunteers to wash hands before and during the shift and volunteers interacting with clients to wear gloves
• Making hand sanitizing stations available throughout the facility
• Cleaning tools used during the volunteer shift after each shift
• Frequently cleaning high touch surfaces
• Having volunteers work inside packing boxes with a variety of nutritious foods
We are also providing the following suggestions for all Empowering The Masses’ volunteers and staff:
• If you feel ill, stay home and avoid exposing others
• Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose and mouth
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
If you have:
• A normal temperature,
• Not been diagnosed with, or exposed to anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 (Coronavirus),
• No reason to believe that you, someone in your home or others with whom you have close contact has been exposed to COVID-19
• None of the following symptoms: fever, dry cough, fatigue, shortness of breath
• A desire to serve your community during this urgent need
Then please fill out a volunteer application on our website
We cannot operate without the time, talent, and passionate service of many volunteers.
We need you and more importantly, our clients need you
Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator through the link below or at Email ljohnson@empoweringthemasses.org