Volunteer

• Individual Opportunities:
  • Guest Services Assistant – Answer phones, help check day clients in, collect & sort donations, organize donation rooms & closets, distribute supplies, clean front desk area, etc.
  • Food Services Assistant – Help prepare and cook brunch for day clients, clean dining room, clean kitchen area, wash dishes and plates, collect donations, organize the pantry, check for out-of-date products, etc. 
  • Donation Organization – Help organize donation areas and maintain a general inventory of items.
  • Tutoring or Activities – Help children and adults in our shelter with activities like studying, reading, resume building, arts & crafts projects, and more.
• Group Opportunities:
  • Evening Meals – Provide, prepare, and serve enough food (and drinks) to feed the shelter’s 35 – 40 residents.
  • Brunch Meals – Help prepare and cook breakfast/lunch for day clients, clean dining room, clean kitchen area, wash dishes and plates, collect donations, organize pantry, check for out-of-date products, deep clean, etc.
  • Facility Work Groups – Help clean up debris and provide general lawn/yard work and cleaning around shelter property.
  • Outreach Groups – Set up a table in-house to offer clients services.
  • Donation Drive / Fundraiser – Organize an event on behalf of St. Francis House for supplies, donations, funds, and more!

• Please note that we do NOT accept walk-in volunteers.
• All individual volunteers must be at least 18 years old. Those who are 17 years old and younger can volunteer as long as a parent or guardian is on-site with them at all times.
• All volunteers must provide a copy of a blue card (police clearance) from Gainesville Police Department (more information below) OR a copy of a recently verified background check.
• Volunteers must view orientation and complete corresponding forms.
• Once all paperwork is returned, volunteers will then receive a sign-up link and access code to sign up for shifts.
• All volunteers MUST be scheduled at least three days prior to a shift.
• If a volunteer needs to cancel a shift, we request 24 hours’ notice.
• Volunteers who no call/no show three times will not be rescheduled.
• If at any time a volunteer has concerns, they will share them with the Director of Community Engagement immediately

What is a BLUE CARD and why is it needed?

• WHERE: Blue cards are basic police background checks that are received from the Gainesville Police Department (GPD), located at 545 NW 8th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601.
• HOW: This is a FAST and FREE process provided at the front desk of GPD in less than 5 minutes. 
• WHY: St. Francis House is a temporary shelter for women and families with children, and over half of our guests are kids under the age of 12 years old, therefore we require that anyone who enters our building have a current background check on file.