Burnaby’s Extreme Weather Heat Response Volunteer Program
Objectives of the Extreme Weather Heat Response Volunteer Program:
Volunteers play an important role in providing emergency services to people who do not have a roof over their heads during times when the weather puts them at high health risk. Volunteers do this by helping each day the extreme weather cooling site opens (intermittent & weather dependent):
- providing shady space, cool beverages and food, basic necessities including clothing, cooling cloths, games
- preparing the site for opening (11:30 am) and preparing the site for closing (6:30 pm) by setting up/taking down awnings, tables/chairs, food, clothing and hygiene supply tables
THE VOLUNTEER IS VERY WELCOME & ESSENTIAL!
Volunteer Tasks:
Volunteers work with the Society staff in a number of capacities, e.g.:
- Preparing and delivering to the cooling site nutrition (sandwiches, fruit, water & beverages, or
- Serving food – e.g. sandwiches, fruit and beverages (water/juices) and distributing board games
- Setting up or taking down cooling areas including packing, cleaning/disinfecting all areas used
- Providing cooling cloths, clean clothing, sunscreen, encouraging hygiene
- Checking for and cleaning up garbage, etc.
Provide welcome and non-judgmental support to those using the cooling site
Logistics
- When there is the first sign of a hot weather alert may be called, someone on the EWHR alert team will email/call volunteers to alert them that there is a potential opening of the EWHR cooling site.
- Volunteers will be asked their availability and to be prepared to be called in
- Volunteer shifts are what people can give:
- 1 hour at 6:30 p.m. or 1 hour at 10:30 a.m. are prime help time
- 2, 3, 4 hours between 11:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. to help set up, serve food & water, clothing
- 1, 2 hours in morning or afternoon to set up or take down site and clean up
Process:
complete a volunteer application form here and email it to us at: info@burnabyhomeless.org
or contact us: 604-200-0712