Needs From: The Volunteer Center of Whatcom County

Position:  Resource Center/Community Jobs Front Desk and Special Projects Volunteer 

Reports to:  Resource Center Manager 

Summary:  The RC/CJ Front Desk and Special Project Volunteer spends part of their time overseeing the front desk of the Resource Center and the other part working on special projects that support the operation of Ferndale Community Services.   

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Front desk: 

Greet guests and meet needs, talking with guests and maintaining confidentiality as much as possible. Answer questions about programs and services and pass messages when necessary. 

Assist guests with clothing bank items as needed. 

Distribute direct services upon request, including hygiene items, food, gas cards, bus passes, shower passes, laundry vouchers, and gift cards following all procedures for proper documentation and tracking. 

Refer guests with more complicated needs to Community Resource Navigator. 

Answer phones and return voicemails. 

Assist guests with computer, printer, and fax access as needed. 

Help guests find community resources via online search, with or for them.  Help with phone access as needed. 

Accept donations and follow all procedures for tracking and storing. 

Keep Resource Center clean, tidy and organized. 

Special Projects: 

Work on projects as assigned by the Executive Director or Community Resource Navigator to include: 

Research, online, phone, or in-person 

Creating documents or flyers 

Sorting, organizing, tidying 

Outreach or follow up to various stakeholders as assigned 

Other duties as assigned 

Requirements: 

Professional appearance and helpful, friendly manner 

Must be punctual and dependable 

Basic customer service skills and ability to serve in a busy environment 

Position:  Clothing Bank Donation Sorter

Reports to:  Clothing Bank Coordinator

Summary:  The Clothing Bank helper works with the Clothing Bank Coordinator to sort, fold, and stock clothing for the clothing bank program inside the Ferndale Community Resource Center

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Requirements:

Training and Supervision:  The Clothing Bank Helper receives the Volunteer Manual which outlines all policies and procedures for the position, and also receives in person training within their first week of service.  Follow up training is available as needed and questions are encouraged.

Evaluation:  Informal, verbal evaluation occurs after the first month of service.  Check-ins with the Clothing Bank Coordinator on personal performance, strengths and challenges occur annually.

Time Commitment:  This position is year-round with sorting taking place 1-2 days per week.  Estimated total hours per week, up to 10.

Benefits:

Mission

Ferndale Community Services is a 501c3 non-profit organization that serves the greater Ferndale and North Whatcom County community.  Our mission is to identify and alleviate unmet needs by providing support and connection to build a thriving community.  We envision a community where all people’s basic needs are met, and they are supported and valued. 

We have a pile of donations to sort through, and we can use all the hands we can get! Once sorted our donation go down to our Community Resource Center, where all members of the community are welcome to shop for free, whether it be clothing, blankets, sheets, or a multitude of other household goods. You'll be helping us keep our shelves stocked, ensuring that no one in our community has to go without. Anyone who wants to join is welcome, bring your friends and family along, too!

Summary: The Front Table Volunteer greets and supports guestsand serves as a point of contact for market information.  They distribute direct services to guests, keep the market area tidy and organized, assists in connecting gueststo the correct B2S staff, and more.   

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Greet guests and meet needs, talking with guests and maintaining confidentiality as much as possible. Answer questions about programs and services and pass messages when necessary. 

Assist guests with market table items as needed. 

Distribute direct services upon request, including food and drinks. 

Accept donations and follow all procedures for tracking and storing. 

Keep Market space tidy and organized. 

Refill market supplies as needed with box truck lead assistance. 

Requirements: 

Professional appearance on the relaxed side and helpful, friendly manner 

Must be punctual and dependable 

Basic customer service skills and ability to serve in a busy environment 

Basic computer skills preferred- ability to assist with things like word processing, internet search, printing, etc. 

Strong written and verbal communication skills, second language skills a plus but not required 

Must be self-directed, willing to take direction and initiative, and be detail oriented 

Must respect and maintain confidentiality of guests, donors, and other volunteers 

Training and Supervision:  FrontTable Volunteers receive the Volunteer Manual which outlines all policies and procedures for the position, and also receive in person training on their first day of service.  Follow up training is available as needed and questions are encouraged.  Volunteer is supervised by the Bridge2Services Program Manager. 

Evaluation:  Informal, verbal evaluation occurs after the first month of service.  Check-ins with the Outreach Program Manager on performance, strengths and

Summary:  The Water Drop Volunteer is a summer position that helps staff our Water Brigade program. This program distributes free water at drop locations throughout Whatcom County. Volunteers commit to maintaining between 1-10 coolers: keeping them supplied with bottled water (provided by B2S), keeping the cooler and nearby area clean, and helping maintain a good relationship with our cooler host sites.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Check and maintain stock on assigned coolers. 

Keep assigned coolers clean. 

Keep area around assigned coolers clean, picking up any garbage in the immediate area. 

Check in with host businesses to see if any problems have been reported. 

Coordinate with B2S Program Manager to pick up water to distribute from the B2S warehouse.  

Communicate to the B2S Program Managerstatus of each cooler when checked, including info on any damaged or missing coolers and any problems reported by host businesses. 

Requirements: 

Valid driver's license 

Working cell phone 

Able to lift up to 30 pounds 

Basic customer service skills and a helpful, friendly manner 

Strong written and verbal communication skills  

Must be self-directed, willing to take direction and initiative, and be detail oriented 

Must respect and maintain confidentiality of clients, donors, and other volunteers. 

Training and Supervision:  Water Drop Volunteers will receive in-person training on their first day of service. Follow-up training is available as needed and questions are encouraged. Volunteer is supervised by the Bridge2Services Program Manager.  

Evaluation:  Informal, verbal evaluation occurs after the first month of service.  

Time Commitment:Approximately 1-2 hours per cooler per week, plus time to pick up water from the B2S warehouse. 

Benefits:   

Gain work experience and receive reference upon request

Summary:  The Supply Bundler Volunteer helps package goods for distribution through our Mobile Resource Center. They are given a checklist of supplies, which are provided by B2S, to create bundles that are given to unhoused individuals and families.Volunteers are able to either work on site at our administrative building or pick up the supplies and bundle them at home.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Package goods for distribution following a provided checklist, ensuring that all required supplies are included in each bundle. 

Ensure that goods are packaged in such a way that they will not be damaged when transported. 

Coordinate with B2S Program Manager to schedule bundling shifts, or for volunteers who wish to work from home, scheduling pick up times for bundling supplies.  

Communicate to the B2S Program Managerany issues with supply availability or quality. 

Requirements: 

Reliable means of transportation  

Reliable means of communication 

Able to lift up to 30 pounds 

Strong written and verbal communication skills  

Must be self-directed, willing to take direction and initiative, and be detail oriented 

Must respect and maintain confidentiality of clients, donors, and other volunteers. 

Training and Supervision:  Supply Bundler Volunteers will receive in-person training on their first day of service. Follow-up training is available as needed and questions are encouraged. Volunteer is supervised by the Bridge2Services Program Manager.  

Evaluation:  Informal, verbal evaluation occurs after the first month of service.  

Time Commitment:Approximately 4-5 hours per week 

Benefits:   

Gain work experience and receive reference upon request 

Serve your community 

Mission: 

Ferndale Community Servies is a 501c3 non-profit organization that serves the greater Ferndale and North Whatcom County community. Our mission is to identify and alleviate unmet needs by providing support and connection to build a thriving community. We envision a community where all people’s basic needs are met, and they are supported and valued.  

Summary:  The Donation Transport Volunteer picks up donations from drop locations around Whatcom County. Volunteers commit to maintain between 1-5 donation drop locations: picking up and transporting donations to our B2S warehouse, scheduling pickups and drop offs, keeping the donation drop box and nearby area clean, and helping maintain a good relationship with donation drop host sites.   

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Regularly check assigned drop box locations for any donations. 

Keep drop boxes and the nearby area clean, picking up any garbage in the immediate area. 

Check in with host businesses to see if any problems have been reported. 

Coordinate with B2S Program Manager toschedule donation drop off times at the B2S warehouse.  

Communicate to the B2S Program Managerthe status of each drop box when checked, including info on any damaged or missing boxes and any problems reported by host businesses. 

Requirements: 

Valid driver's license 

Working cell phone 

Able to lift up to 30 pounds 

Basic customer service skills and a helpful, friendly manner 

Strong written and verbal communication skills  

Must be self-directed, willing to take direction and initiative, and be detail oriented 

Must respect and maintain confidentiality of clients, donors, and other volunteers. 

Training and Supervision:  Donation Transport Volunteers will receive in-person training on their first day of service. Follow-up training is available as needed and questions are encouraged. Volunteer is supervised by the Bridge2Services Program Manager.  

Evaluation:  Informal, verbal evaluation occurs after the first month of service.  

Time Commitment:Approximately 1-2 hours per box per week, plus time to drop off donations at the B2S warehouse. 

Benefits:   

Gain work experience and receive reference upon request 

Position:  Other Bank (OB) Distribution Volunteer 

Reports to:  OB Program Coordinator 

Summary:  The OB Distribution Volunteer helps with product distribution during the designated distribution times.  Provides friendly and patient customer service to patrons of the program.  Shift is once a week for 2 hours.   

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Greet guests and helps them register and/or place order using the order form. 

Understands program criteria and rules and clearly explains them and answers questions. 

Fills guest orders from the form. 

Can make pleasant conversation with guests, is patient and helpful with non-native English speakers, welcoming and warm with all guests including children. 

Can hold to firm but gentle boundaries. 

Accept donations and follow all procedures for tracking and storing. 

Keep Other Bank tidy and organized. 

Requirements: 

Professional appearance and helpful, friendly manner. 

Must be punctual and dependable. 

Basic customer service skills and ability to serve in a busy environment. 

Basic computer skills preferred but not essential. 

Strong written and verbal communication skills, second language skills a plus but not required. 

Must be self-directed, willing to take direction and initiative, and be detail oriented. 

Must respect and maintain confidentiality of guests, donors, and other volunteers. 

Training and Supervision:  OB Volunteers receive the Volunteer Manual which outlines all policies and procedures for the position, and also receive in person training on their first day of service.  Follow up training is available as needed and questions are encouraged.  Volunteer is supervised by the OB Program Coordinator. 

Evaluation:  Informal, verbal evaluation occurs after the first month of service.  Check-ins with the Executive Director or Program Coordinator on performance, strengths and challenges occur annually. 

Time Commitment:  This position is a weekly 2-hour shift of service in-person at the Resource Center for a minimum of 6 months. 

Benefits: