Opportunities From: United Way of Pierce County

The Family Housing Network Safe Parking Site is seeking volunteer groups to make "Keeping It Cool Kits" for the hot summer months ahead. Kits are intended to be distributed to site guests/residents who are living in their cars.

"Keeping It Cool Kits" are care kits that can be packed with any of these hot weather essentials:

Kits can be packed in Ziploc-style baggies or paper lunch sacks. This is a new project we're piloting so there is no right or wrong way to pack a "Keeping it Cool Kit". It's all about keeping folks safe from heat during the summer. Kindness and creativity go  a long way.

Groups that are interested in packing care kits would need to supply their own materials.

Since it's an offsite project, we don't require a lot of volunteer paperwork. We just ask for basic info for the group leader (name, contact info and DOB). We ask that groups log their hours (essentially a sign in sheet) so we can use that data for monthly volunteer reports and grant proposals. This project is suitable for adults and youth groups.

Interested in learning more? Email meganed@ccsww.org or call 253-365-4111 to reach Megan Edwin, Volunteer Coordinator.

The Family Housing Network Safe Parking Site Program is looking for groups and/or individuals who would like to pack Personal Care Kits for families and single adults who are currently unhoused and living in their cars.

Residents staying at the Safe Parking Site have access to bath and shower facilities but frequently don't have their own personal hygiene supplies. Personal Care Kits are a great resource for folks who need essential items like shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, deodorant, shaving supplies and dental care products, and who don’t have a ton of space to store supplies in their vehicles.

Volunteers would need to supply their own materials which can be purchased in bulk through hospitality supply companies or through online distributers like Amazon.

Personal Care Kits generally include these types of items:

·         Travel size shampoo and conditioner

·         Travel size soap or bodywash

·         Travel size deodorant

·         Toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss

·         Shaving cream and a razor

 Helpful “bonus items” include things like bath poufs or washcloths, nail brushes, plastic combs, hair brushes and nail clippers. Feminine hygiene products like tampons, maxi-pads and personal care wipes are always greatly appreciated.

If you would like to make Personal Care Kits or have a group that would like to make kits with you, please contact meganed@ccsww.org or call 253-365-4111. Thank you!

The Family Housing Network Safe Parking Site Program is a 90-day housing program for families and single adults who are living in their cars. Our site is a safe place for sites guests to park their vehicles overnight and access services.

We use a Meal Train Calendar to coordinate dinners at the site. Anyone in the community is welcome to donate a dinner. Drop off is at 6 pm. Dinners can be homemade or store-bought. The idea is that it's something ready to serve and accompanied with disposable silverware/plates.

We usually need dinners for 18-25 people. The Meal Train Calendar is updated frequently to reflect current guest counts as clients move in and out of the site.

To sign up to donate a dinner or learn more, please visit https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/mg49q7.

If you have additional questions, please contact Megan Edwin, Volunteer Coordinator

at meganed@ccsww.org or call 253-365-4111. Groups or individuals who wish to serve meals onsite would need to register to become volunteers. This is not required for meal drop off.

Family Housing Network (Catholic Community Services SW) runs a Safe Parking Program for families and single adults who are living in their vehicles while experiencing homelessness.

The site has a small "Care Closet" which is a clothing room where site residents can "shop" for the clothing and supplies that they need. All items are free and supplied by donations.

The Details:

Volunteers are needed once a week or bi-weekly to help sort donations, organize the clothing room and assist residents who need items.

We need 1-2 people per shift and shift times are flexible.

This project is suitable for adults of all ages or teens ages 12-17 if accompanied a parent or adult.

Please register online to join our volunteer team!

http://bit.ly/VSregSW

To request a paper copy of volunteer registration materials, please call 253-365-4111 or email meganed@ccsww.org. Materials can be mailed to you with a pre-stamped return envelope.