Grace Warming Stations - Help Needed

Winter is upon us. The Homeless do not have shelter. Grace Episcopal Church in Woodlawn is Birmingham's only Warming Station - besides that run by the City of Birmingham.

Heart to Table is a group of locally-owned restaurants that provide hot, ready-to-eat meals for the guests of the Warming Stations. This freezing season, we need supplies, as well as set-up, supper servers, hospitality, and overnighters. Occasionally, Other helpful tasks are needed, such as hanging up and organizing coats or sorting supplies. So, folks are asked to be flexible. 

Overview of Volunteer Shifts:

Set-Up 4:30-5:30pmMove tables, set up cots, get out sheets/blankets, put out games, prepare coffee/hot chocolate/accouterments and snacks, set up an extension cord and power strip, make sure toilet paper is in the bathroom, and put bags in trash cans.Hospitality 5:30-7:30pmGive guests one sheet and one blanket for them to put on their cot immediately to claim their space and give us a headcount (without any blankets walking out the door). Answer questions or direct them to the supervisor. Interact at will. Supper servers 5:30pm-7:00pm (Supper is served promptly at 6:00pm and concludes at 7:00pm)Make sure plates, utensils, and napkins are out. Move serving tables into place (if not already). Familiarize yourself with the food delivered from the Heart to Table restaurant and decide who will plate what (assembly-line style). If there is a dessert in the kitchen, put it out. Wear gloves. Serve food. At the appropriate time (ask supervisor), offer seconds. Announce ‘last call’ and close up. Leftovers go in the fridge. Clean up serving items/area. Overnighters 7:30pm-morning. At 9pm, give notice that there are 30 minutes before ‘doors shut/lights out.’ Just before lights out, pass out socks. Everyone is to be on their cot and quiet from 9:30pm until morning. No one may enter unless delivered by the Police or OneRoof. If someone leaves, they are not allowed to re-enter. Guests may go to the bathroom - one at a time. Both volunteers stay in the Fellowship Hall. Wake up: make coffee and set out a snack. Guests bring their sheets/towels to the front to be bagged. Guests return their cots to the front and help move tables back into place. Pass out hats, gloves, and scarves. Clean up coffee, etc. Return electric cords to their storage spots.

The address is: Grace Episcopal Church, 5712 First Avenue North, 35212. Park in the lot beside the church (across 58th). The Fellowship Hall doors are on the far left with the iron gate. There is a ‘wind feather flag’ marking the door. 

If you would like to volunteer, please email Anne Westbrooke (AHMancer@aol.com) with your full name, contact number, and which shifts are of interest.