WINTER 2022 Volunteering
What We Need as We Move Toward Normal
We have six categories of helpers needed as described below. We suggest volunteers choose only the category that fits their capabilities and interests best. You express interest through the same form below for all categories. Our core volunteers have the ability to have the most impact by volunteering for a "term" (spring, summer, fall) and are by application only. We also have open call volunteer opportunities that do not require application whenever possible.
If you volunteered with us in the past, you know how much volunteers have helped us and what an impact you can make on clients' lives. We grew during the crisis so things will be different. If you're interested in volunteering, please read the descriptions and expectations below. Choose the best category for you and fill out the expression of interest form at the bottom of this page! We'll get back to you with the next step.
Virtual Volunteers
Sample duties include making Canva graphics for us to use, creating learn and earn Google forms, updating content on our web, helping with responses or posting on social media, helping coordinate the virtual volunteers, doing consumer research, and making phone calls. We have a few errands in this category as well. Virtual tasks are described in our Virtual Volunteer Center document. You'll get access to this document after you apply and are accepted.
Virtual volunteers commit to:
Work weekly at least one hour
Complete work promptly
Communicate through our online chat and document sharing
Record all hours promptly in your volunteer log
Virtual volunteers are not likely to have any contact with clients but must report any contact with clients immediately to info@streetyouthministry.org.
We have a limited amount of bandwidth to work with our virtual volunteers. Those unable to contribute for two weeks in a row may be removed and others added from a waiting list.
Online Event Helpers (Zoom)
We need two helpers for each of the following events. This is an open position with only a four event participation requirement. There is about an hour of preparation involved in each event as well that you must do to assist the online event host. Each event is held by Zoom. Interaction with clients and SYMin host is expected. You'll get access to schedule sign-up after your application is accepted.
Tuesday 1pm Men's Support Group
Tuesday 6pm Game Night
Wednesday 6pm Talent Night
Online Event helpers commit to:
Focus on one group and attend at least 4 groups in two months
Contribute to discussion or activities and occasionally make supportive comments with clients during the event
Men's Support Group volunteers must identify as male.
A volunteer must agree to personal boundaries and confidentiality to participate.
No offers of assistance other than group participation are permitted.
No exchange of contact information is permitted.
No outside contact with clients is expected. Any contact outside SYMin must be reported immediately to info@streetyouthministry.org.
No-show will be removed and future reservations canceled. What happens in our groups may not be discussed with others. Boundary issues may likely result in immediate removal from the groups.
Theme Workers
This is an open position most suited to a small group of people working together. There is no minimum participation requirement. Every other week, we offer a theme week that ties our virtual events and Drop-by activities together. Theme week includes outdoor safe events across a table twice a week to help with engagement. Examples include fashion week, back-to-school week, and gratitude week. Our amazing team needs help brainstorming future events and tangible help gathering supplies and doing drives for needed supplies. We launch all events on Monday with an outdoor activity 12-4, follow up with another activity and finish on Friday with an outdoor event 12-4. Those volunteers who feel comfortable can participate in the outdoor event, provided we are at Stage 3 or lower. We are not able to provide access to our indoor facility however. Theme volunteers often choose to focus on one or two themes and often involve their friends or a group. Themes are listed in SYMin Biweekly Theme Work Volunteer Center. You'll get access after you apply and are accepted.
Theme workers commit to:
Focus on a particular theme week
Contribute to idea generation, supply gathering, and executing our theme weeks using our document sharing.
Recruit friends and groups if necessary.
Record all hours and in-kind donations in their volunteer log document promptly.
Vaccinated In-House Helper
We have ten core volunteer positions this fall for fully vaccinated volunteers to help for 2-3 hours in our facility M-F between the hours of 11:30 and 4:30 (flexible start/end, 2 openings per day). Everyone wears mask, observes social distancing, and does temperature screening. The tasks will involve a mixture of serving clients at our gate, sorting supplies and clothing, and assembling food bags provided to our clients. Selections will be final no later than the third week of September. Orientation and training sessions will be organized by second term experienced volunteers.
Facility Helpers commit to:
Submit application verifying fully vaccinated status and availability
If selected, perform at least 30 hours of volutneerism at our facility before Dec 15 2021, typically on one designated day per week.
Screen themselves using our form prior to arrival each day, including having no symptoms, not being exposed to someone with a COVID case, and having had a social circle smaller than 6 in the past 5 days.
Follow all social distancing and hygiene rules in place, as presented in the screening form
A volunteer must agree to personal boundaries and confidentiality to participate.
No offers of assistance to clients other than we provide at the facility are permitted.
No exchange of contact information is permitted with clients.
No outside contact with clients is expected. Any contact outside SYMin must be reported immediately to info@streetyouthministry.org.
No-shows will be removed to make room for others from the waiting list.
Vaccinated Outreach Helper
We have open call positions this fall to meet our staff at a designated location in East Austin (or San Marcos) to perform outreach with homeless individuals. Our goals are to meet individual needs, look for clients in our age range, and to promote awareness of our services among all those experiencing homelessness so they can help us find young clients in need. Orientation and training sessions will be organized by your team leader.
Facility Helpers commit to:
Submit application verifying fully vaccinated status
Commit to at least 4 outreach visits before Dec 15, 2021.
Screen themselves using our form prior to arrival each day, including having no symptoms, not being exposed to someone with a COVID case, and having had a social circle smaller than 6 in the past 5 days.
Follow all social distancing and hygiene rules in place ,as presented in the screening form
A volunteer must agree to personal boundaries and confidentiality to participate.
No offers of assistance to clients other than we provide at the facility are permitted.
No exchange of contact information is permitted with clients.
No outside contact with clients is expected. Any contact outside SYMin must be reported immediately to info@streetyouthministry.org.
No-shows will be removed from future reservations.
Vaccinated Second-Term Volunteer Leader
If you have served 30 hours with our clients in the past, you may signup to be a second term volunteer leader. This means you will help us select our first-term volunteer, organize orientation and occasional ongoing training sessions by Zoom, meet with volutneers on occasion to check-in with them, monitor progress, and organize our end of term volunteer appreciation event. As a second-term volunteer, you are always welcome to screen and come by our center.
Facility Helpers commit to:
Submit application verifying fully vaccinated status.
Screen themselves using our form prior to arrival each day, including having no symptoms, not being exposed to someone with a COVID case, and having had a social circle smaller than 6 in the past 5 days.
Follow all social distancing and hygiene rules in place as presented in the screening form
A volunteer must agree to personal boundaries and confidentiality to participate.
No offers of assistance to clients other than we provide at the facility are permitted.
No exchange of contact information is permitted with clients.
No outside contact with clients is expected. Any contact outside SYMin must be reported immediately to info@streetyouthministry.org.