Shelter for the Homeless P.O. Box 1252 Stamford, CT 06902 E :info@shelterforhomeless.org P: 203-406-0017
Shelter for the Homeless exists today because on a cold night in 1982 a man named Smitty froze to death and a handful of Stamford citizens were saddened and outraged.
They rolled up their sleeves and started preparing and serving nutritious hot meal. They put their compassion and indignation to work, spreading the word, inspiring and mobilizing others and a few months later the First Congregational Church in Stamford was offering shelter in their basement. Soon the Council of Churches and Synagogues joined this grass roots movement and by March of 1985, sixty homeless people did not have to sleep on the street.
And so Shelter for the Homeless came to be the premier agency serving the homeless of Stamford, Greenwich, Darien and New Canaan. But at the core of our mission are a handful of neighbors who vowed not to stand by and let someone else feed, clothe and save a life.
If we could conjure up magical machines that would cook and serve meals, they could not offer welcome or break bread or shake the hand of another human being hungry for a touch of humanity -- for a sense of family. Only you can do that. You can help make our facilities welcoming and our work effective.
Volunteers support our work and continuously inspire us and our clients with their dedication and generous spirit. They put a human face on the invisible Smittys and they put a human face on a helping hand.
Ways You Can Help
Meal Preparation and Service
Nutritious dinners are prepared or purchased by groups and families offsite and brought to Pacific House Emergency Shelter. Each night we need groups of at least four individuals to prepare and serve meals. This is a great way to learn about volunteering at the Shelter.
Evening Hosts
Evening Hosts help the residential staff with meal sign-in, bed assignments linens and toiletries distribution and answering phones. The shift is from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM and is supervised by the on-duty Residential Manager.
Tutoring
Tutors work with clients to improve skills in several areas, including: literacy, English as a Second Language, basic education, computer skills and other vocational skills. Tutors also help clients earn their General Education Diploma (G.E.D.). Tutors must complete an application and orientation process before they can work with clients.
Administration
Some volunteers provide administrative or specialized assistance for professional staff in various departments. The Development Office also needs extra help periodically with fundraising activities (mailings, phone calls and events).
Transportation
Volunteers are sometimes needed to help pick up and deliver supplies and in-kind donations to the Shelter.
Construction and Facilities Maintenance
Volunteers help paint, repair and maintain our facilities activities that can draw upon a wide range of skills, experience and creativity.
These are only some of the ways in which you can help. If you’d like to join our family of volunteers and/or want to learn more, call
Peggy Lutz, Development Director 203 406-0017 X301Volunteer
Photograph by Marc Zaref
Website by: Webs For Good LLC
