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Volunteer with Bayside

BACKGROUND

The Bayside Housing & Services (BHS) volunteer program is in place to promote civic and community participation within the programs that BHS offers. Through volunteerism, BHS encourages residents & guests, family members, students, and the community to have an active role in helping individuals and families find and keep permanent housing and to foster a sense of inclusion and support.

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Currently, the only established volunteer opportunity is through the new Meals Program at the Jefferson County Emergency Shelter. See below for all the information and forms you will need to get signed up!

If you have other volunteer ideas that you'd like to explore - please scroll down to submit a Volunteer Inquiry with your volunteer questions or ideas!  And stay tuned to this page for more exciting volunteer opportunities coming soon at our JCMASH medical clinic and some planned community-building activities with our residents and guests!

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VOLUNTEERING AT THE

JEFFERSON COUNTY EMERGENCY SHELTER (JCES)

MEALS PROGRAM

Volunteering to feed people who are unhoused at the Jefferson County Emergency Shelter is a profoundly impactful act of compassion that addresses both immediate needs and broader social issues. It provides essential nourishment and care to individuals who may be struggling with food insecurity and homelessness, offering them not just a meal but a moment of dignity and human connection.

We invite you to partner with us in fostering a sense of community and hope and helping to break the cycle of isolation that many face. Your involvement helps to raise awareness about the challenges of unhoused people while encouraging connectivity and inspiring others to contribute to systemic change. You really do make a difference!

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SIX WAYS TO GET INVOLVED:

1) Sign up as a GROUP via our simple online volunteer sign-up system to provide and prepare dinner at the JCES for a week at a time. We recommend groups of 4-6 people, which helps you to spread the cost and the responsibilities for the entire week. Gather your friends, coworkers, and family to work together! It’s incredibly helpful for us when groups sign up to prepare dinner for a whole week (typically Monday-Friday. If you are able to include the weekend - we appreciate that all the more!)

• Menu planning, purchasing of ingredients and meal preparation are the responsibility of the group for the week they sign up.

• Creating sack lunches in the evening for the following day is an added task. We always appreciate your help with this if your team has time before you leave the shelter!

• Be prepared to cook food for between 17 and 26 guests, as well as 1-2 staff members and members of your volunteer group. Please plan for hearty and healthy servings.

  • The week before you are scheduled to serve, contact Bayside by email at info@baysidehousing.org to receive information about:

    • what food we may have on hand that you could use in your preparations (we periodically receive donations of frozen meat and canned foods that may be available for use);

    • the average number of guests staying at the shelter that week, and any special dietary needs they may have.

    • Please also notify Bayside if you need to request reimbursement for the fee for one individual to receive their Food Worker card.

• SIGN UP online at https://signup.com/go/zgbSvXy

• SCROLL DOWN to download the volunteer packet for each volunteer in your group. Bring signed forms for each volunteer in your group to the shelter on your first day of food service. 

2) If you want to volunteer but aren’t part of a group, we invite you to sign up as an INDIVIDUAL for a WEEKEND SHIFT to assist shelter staff in meal preparation.

• SIGN UP online at https://signup.com/go/zgbSvXy

• SCROLL DOWN to download the volunteer packet. Bring the signed forms to the shelter on your first day of food service. 

3) Purchase and deliver frozen family-style dinners from the store for the shelter staff to have on hand for days when we don’t have groups available to cook.​

• Please call the JCES phone line at (360) 385-1403 and leave a message with an estimate of when you will deliver. Staff can then anticipate your arrival and provide space in the freezer.

• Deliver frozen dinners to the Jefferson County Emergency Shelter (JCES) at 209 Monroe St, Port Townsend, WA 98368 between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m., 7 days a week.

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4) Purchase and deliver items that can be used for sack lunches (cookies, fruit, chips, sandwich bread, lunch meat, cheese, etc.). Please contact Bayside at info@baysidehousing.org before you purchase items to get an accurate list of shelter needs.

5) Purchase and deliver items used in food preparation, shelter operations or personal hygiene items [aluminum foil, parchment paper, latex gloves (small, medium, large), paper lunch bags, resealable sandwich bags, paper napkins, coffee, creamer, new socks/underwear, razors, toothbrushes, etc.]. Please contact Bayside at info@baysidehousing.org before you purchase items to get an accurate list of shelter needs.

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6) Give! Cash donations to help with food costs can be made to Bayside Housing & Services by visiting our website at www.baysidehousing.org/donate.​

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WHO CAN VOLUNTEER AT BAYSIDE?

• Anyone age 15 or over. If under 18, permission from a parent or guardian is required. In some cases, a valid work permit may also be required. And there may be some specific projects where younger children are allowed and encouraged to participate only with a parent or guardian chaperone.

• In some cases, a valid food handler's permit may be required. 

• Anyone with current/past experience with issues of homelessness, crisis or trauma (your own or that of a family member or friend) and the desire to help others. We highly recommend that volunteers allow themselves at least 5 years of healing time before offering their support to others in areas related to their own history of trauma. 

• Anyone who wants to have or explore career options in housing, shelter services, case management,peer support, behavioral health, gardening, administrative support, community organizing, and/or event management.

• Anyone who has a positive attitude and wants to be an agent for individual, family and community healing.

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STUDENT VOLUNTEERS

High school (ages 15+), vocational, and college students have the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and experience by volunteering with BHS. Students can volunteer anytime, including during the summer as part of their school programs (e.g. senior projects or community service graduation requirements) and/or as recommended by their teachers or mentors.​

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HOW LONG CAN YOU VOLUNTEER?

There is no set length of time to volunteer but we ask for a commitment of a minimum of 120 hours. We can often work around your schedule.

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VOLUNTEER BENEFITS

When you volunteer, you have an opportunity to:

• Obtain hands on training

• Gain valuable work experience and knowledge

• Network

• Make a difference in someone’s life

• Make new friends

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HOW TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER

1. To become a general Bayside volunteer, please submit a VOLUNTEER INQUIRY via the inquiry submittal form BELOW.

2. To volunteer for the Jefferson County Emergency Shelter Meals Program, see the information ABOVE and sign-up online at https://signup.com/go/zgbSvXy

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BHS complies with applicable civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or disability.