New Volunteers
Becoming a Women's Lunch Place Volunteer
- Please fill out an online application.
- A member of our volunteer team will contact you for a brief telephone interview. This gives us a chance to get to know you, and for you to learn more about us. Together, we will determine if WLP is a good fit for you.
- If we both agree that WLP is a good fit for you, we'll encourage you to register for an on-site orientation. Orientations are offered twice a month during daytime and evening hours. They last approximately one hour. You must attend an orientation before you can begin to volunteer.
- We will issue you a user id and password for our online scheduling system. WLP staff will help you register for your first shift to ensure that we welcome you properly and pair you up with a volunteer buddy.
- You must complete WLP's Serve Safe Food Safety course within your first two months of volunteering. Sessions are held onsite twice a month at the WLP office.
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
We make every effort to utilize the vast array of skills and talents that volunteers bring to the WLP community. The dedication and compassion of our volunteers enables us to provide services of the highest quality. Here are some ways you might help. The majority of volunteers devote their time and energy to our meals program. Some volunteers prepare meals off-site and deliver them to us, though most prefer to work in our kitchen.
- Volunteers in our Resource Center provide guests with technical assistance or make referrals for other needed services.
- Some volunteers are specifically trained to oversee daily activities in the shelter. They may fill requests for personal-care items, or provide guests with emotional support.
- Volunteers help in other areas of guest assistance, sorting donations and providing toiletries and clothing to guests, or running classes and activities for guests.
- Volunteers also contribute to special events and holiday celebrations throughout the year. Some organize drives for items such as toiletries and clothing in their communities.
Serve Safe Course
WLP takes the health and safety of its guests very seriously. To this end, all kitchen volunteers are required to complete a Serve Safe Food Safety course within their first two months of volunteering. In this two-hour class, you will learn how to prepare and serve food in a safe and hygienic manner and how to protect yourself and others from food borne illnesses. The course is facilitated by WLP's Operations Manager. It is held twice a month at the WLP office.
We appreciate every new volunteer.