Link to HBMP Volunteer

Schedule 2007

 

 

 

 

HOMELESS BAGGED MEAL PROGRAM

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How do I become a HMBP volunteer?

After reading over our website, call our Volunteer Coordinator at 703 820 4357 ext. 17 or email to aspanvolunteer@aol.com.

 

Who volunteers for the HBMP?

A-SPAN counts on the help of individuals, families, youth groups, churches, synagogues, temples, schools, civic associations, businesses…the list goes on.  Our volunteers are driven to learn more about homelessness in our community and determined to do something about it.

 

What’s the difference between the two parts (Preparation and Serving) of the HBMP?

Preparation Volunteers are those who make the bagged meals – they buy the groceries, organize a team, and put the meals together in a group or private kitchen.  Serving Volunteers are those who serve the bagged meals and hot food provided by the DC Central Kitchen from their vehicle in two different locations in Arlington.

 

There are instructions on the website for Preparation Volunteers and Serving Volunteers.  What if my group wants to do both?

Many groups both prepare and serve the bagged meals.  It simply means that you need to have your prepared bagged meals ready in time to pick up the hot food at Sullivan House at 5:45pm and be at the Oakland Mini-Park by 6:00pm.  

 

How many volunteers does it take?

Preparation Volunteers need one person to buy the groceries and a minimum of about four people to put the bagged meals together.  Some groups (especially schools and youth groups) work in teams of up to 20.

Serving Volunteers need to work in teams of at least two people, in one vehicle.  Although some groups include more people, we recommend using only one vehicle to avoid problems with caravanning and parking as you move from location to location.

 

I’m just one person.  Which part should I participate in?

Individual volunteers should begin with the Serving portion of the HBMP.  The Volunteer Coordinator will place you with other individual volunteers to form a group.  Individual families may begin with either the Preparation or Serving portion of the HBMP. 

 

How long does it take?  How often will I volunteer?

Preparation Volunteers should count on enough time to buy the groceries, and then 1.5-2 hours to prepare the bagged meals.  Because the meals must be delivered to the Serving Volunteers by 6pm, most groups begin preparing around 4:00pm.

Serving Volunteers should expect to commit 1.5 hours in one evening’s work.  They begin at 5:45pm when they pick up DC Central Kitchen hot food at Sullivan House and are usually finished by around 7:15pm.

The HBMP operates 365 days a year and we book our volunteer schedule in six-month blocks.  There are always openings for new volunteers, however, and new groups/individuals will generally volunteer with A-SPAN once a month to begin.

 

Do I need a car?

Preparing Volunteers need only coordinate among themselves so that one vehicle is available for buying groceries, transporting them to the designated kitchen, and then delivering the prepared bagged meals to the Serving Volunteers.  Serving Volunteers must have a vehicle to transport food between 3-4 different locations in one evening.

 

Do we need to prepare meals in a County-certified kitchen with the presence of a Food Safety Manager?

No.

Until March of 2007, Arlington County required that the food A-SPAN served be prepared in a certified, inspected kitchen and in the presence of a Food Safety Manager.  Many long-time A-SPAN volunteers had their kitchens inspected and underwent food safety management training in order to comply with these regulations.  In March, however, state legislation was passed that exempts charitable organizations engaged in food distribution programs from local and state food safety regulations.

This means that the bagged meals may be prepared in any suitable location, including private homes.  Many groups will continue to prepare the meals in the kitchens of their religious organizations, community groups, or schools.  Of course, A-SPAN expects volunteers to follow standard food safety practices including preparation in a clean environment, with gloves, using clean equipment.

 

What exactly are we serving?

Serving Volunteers serve bagged meals together with hot food provided by the DC Central Kitchen.  The bagged meals are provided by the Preparation Volunteers and are dropped off directly with the Serving Volunteers at the Oakland Mini-Park.  The hot food is picked up by the Serving Volunteers at Sullivan House. 

 

What’s in a bagged meal?  How much does it cost?

A bagged meal includes two sandwiches, one fruit item, one sweet snack (no chocolate, please), one savory snack, and one beverage.  It costs between $125 and $150 for the groceries to prepare 60 bagged meals. 

 

Is the HBMP appropriate for children?

Children and teenagers are encouraged to participate in the Preparation portion of the HBMP; we count on the help of many schools, churches, youth groups, Brownie troops, etc.  However, the Serving portion of the HBMP is not appropriate for young children.  Older teenagers may participate at the discretion of their parents.

 

What if something strange happens when I’m serving the meals?

Serving volunteers should be prepared to be assertive; there is a limited amount of food and there are rules regarding seconds, etc.  Volunteers will find that the majority of the time interactions with clients are overwhelmingly positive. 

A-SPAN encourages volunteers to carry a cell phone in the event of a medical or police emergency.  Volunteers should not attempt to mediate conflicts, and if you feel unsafe you should simply leave the area and notify A-SPAN of the situation.

 

What is Sullivan House? 

Sullivan House is a residential center.  It is not affiliated with A-SPAN, yet generously provides us with a central location for drop-off and pick-up of hot food from the DC Central Kitchen.

 

What are the details of the Preparation portion of the HBMP?

Please see “HBMP: Instructions for Preparation Volunteers.”

 

What are the details of the Serving portion of the HBMP?

Please see “HBMP: Instructions for Serving Volunteers.”

 

Are there any other volunteer opportunities with A-SPAN?

Of course!  We are always looking for volunteers to help with administrative office work, direct service at the front desk of our drop-in center (Opportunity Place), direct service at our Emergency Shelter, participation in the annual Help The Homeless Walk-a-Thon (in November), and coordination of donation drives for various needed items.  Please see “Volunteer Opportunities.”

 

 

 

 

 

HOMELESS BAGGED MEAL PROGRAM

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARATION VOLUNTEERS

 

SCHEDULE:

 

Before 4:30pm on the day you are serving  

Buy groceries to make 60 bagged meals (minimum 1 volunteer)

 

4:30pm – 5:30pm:  Your kitchen

Prepare bagged meals (minimum 4 volunteers)

 

6:00pm:  Oakland Mini-Park, Wilson Blvd.

Deliver bagged meals to Serving Volunteers (minimum 1 volunteer)

 

BUYING GROCERIES

Buying the supplies for making 60 bagged meals can be done by one or more Preparation Volunteers at any time prior to 4:30pm on the day that you are preparing the meals.  A general shopping list includes the following:

 

YOUR KITCHEN, 4:30pm – 5:30pm

At least 4 volunteers prepare the bagged meals together in a community or private kitchen.  Groups often choose to meet in the kitchen of their religious organization, community group, or school; however, the meals may be prepared in any suitable kitchen including that of a private home.  Please note that until March 2007, Arlington County regulations required that meals be prepared in a certified kitchen under the supervision of a licensed Food Safety Manager.  This regulation has been changed; a certified kitchen and Food Safety Manager are no longer required.

 

OAKLAND MINI-PARK, 6:00pm

Preparation Volunteers (at least one person in one vehicle) transport the prepared bagged meals to the Oakland Mini-Park at 6:00pm.  The Oakland Mini-Park is located on Wilson Blvd. between Oakland St. and N. Nelson St., and bordered on the side parallel to Wilson Blvd. by 9th St.  The 9th St. side is where meals will be served.  Here you will meet the Serving Volunteers and give them the meals so that they can hand out the bags along with hot food provided by the DC Central Kitchen.   Your bagged meals will be part of a complete dinner for 60 people tonight.  Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

HOMELESS BAGGED MEAL PROGRAM

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SERVING VOLUNTEERS

 

SCHEDULE:

 

5:45pm:  Sullivan House, 3103 9th Road

Pick up hot food in cambros

 

6:00 – 6:20pm:  Oakland Mini-Park, 9th Street      

Meet preparers with bagged meals; serve half of combined hot/bagged meals from vehicle

 

6:30 – 6:45pm:  Rosslyn, 1801 North Moore St.    

Serve remaining combined hot/bagged meals from vehicle

 

6:45 – 7:00pm:  Emergency Winter Shelter, 2049 N. 15th St.

        Drop off leftover bagged meals (NOT leftover hot food)

 

7:00 – 7:15pm:  Sullivan House, 3103 9th Road     

Return cambros; dispose of leftover hot food; fill out program report

 

(2-3 volunteers are sufficient for serving; 1 vehicle is necessary.  More than 1 vehicle can cause parking difficulties.)

 

SULLIVAN HOUSE, 5:45pm

Sullivan House is located off North Highland Street near the Clarendon Metro.  The address for Sullivan House is 3103 9th Road.  The parking lot/driveway has a one-way entrance and a one-way exit; to enter, you should turn right onto 9th Road from N. Highland Street and make an immediate right into the parking lot/driveway.  Ring the buzzer at the back door and identify yourself as an A-SPAN volunteer.

 

Cambros (crates) containing hot food from the DC Central Kitchen will be in the front entrance along with a milk crate filled with serving supplies.  Each cambro contains 30 styrofoam containers of hot food.  The milk crates contain drink cups, spoons, latex serving gloves, garbage bags, hand sanitizer, and a Homeless Bagged Meal Program Report.  If something is missing, notify Sullivan House staff and someone will let you into the storeroom, where you will find similar milk crates containing the missing items.

 

The cambros should be carried by two volunteers and it is important to keep them level to avoid spilling.  Once the hot food is loaded into your vehicle, proceed to the Oakland Mini-Park. 

 

Exit onto N. Highland Street and turn left.  At the light, turn left onto 10th St.  At the intersection with Wilson Blvd make another left.  After about 5 short blocks you will see the Oakland Mini-Park on your right between N. Nelson St. and N. Oakland St.  Turn right onto Oakland St. and make an immediate right on 9th Street, which borders the park on the other side.  You should park your vehicle and serve on this side of the park.

 

OAKLAND MINI-PARK, 6:00 – 6:20pm

Preparation Volunteers will meet you (the Serving Volunteers) here at the first stop with the bagged meals they have prepared.  Do not begin serving until you have loaded the bagged meals into your vehicle, to be served along with the hot food from cambros.

 

Meals are served at the Oakland Mini-Park from 6:00pm until 6:20pm.  Everyone gets one bagged meal and one hot food item.  You should hand out around half of the total number of bagged/hot meals here (25-30 bagged meals and 30 hot food items).  NEW: Do not hand out seconds of the bagged meals; these you will take to A-SPAN's Emergency Winter Shelter at the end of the evening.  You may hand out seconds of the hot food after 6:15pm.  Do not put any food or garbage in the trash at the Oakland Mini-Park.  At 6:20pm, proceed to the second stop located in Rosslyn.

 

Turn right on N. Nelson St. to return to Wilson Blvd.  Turn left on Wilson Blvd., and follow it about 2 miles.  (It will become Clarendon Blvd. for a while; Wilson Blvd. at this point is one way in the opposite direction, but the two connect again to become Wilson Blvd.)  After you pass the Hyatt hotel on your left and the two roads join, turn left onto N. Moore St.  The Rosslyn Metro will be on your left, and the Burger King is diagonally across from it on your right at 1801 N. Moore St.

 

ROSSLYN, 6:30 – 6:45pm

If necessary, A-SPAN volunteers have permission to park in the No Parking zone or, if no space is available there, in the taxi stand area in front of the Burger King.  Use the On Delivery sign provided with the milk crate.    Here you may hand out the remaining 25-30 bagged meals and 30 hot food items.  NEW: Do not hand out seconds of the bagged meals; these you will take to A-SPAN’s Emergency Winter Shelter.  You may hand out seconds of the hot food.  Do not put any food or garbage in the trash at the Rosslyn location. 

 

EMERGENCY SHELTER, 6:45pm- 7:00pm

Take any leftover bagged meals to A-SPAN’s Emergency Shelter, located at 2049 N. 15th St., Arlington (near Courthouse).  A staff member will be waiting to collect any meals you may have.  Please note that you should only go to the shelter if you have leftover bagged meals; the shelter will not accept leftover hot food.  Hot food should be disposed of at Sullivan House.

 

SULLIVAN HOUSE, 7:00 – 7:15pm

Return with the milk crate, cambros and any leftover hot food to Sullivan House.  Any food or garbage should be placed in a garbage bag (to be found in the milk crate) and thrown in the Sullivan House dumpster in the parking lot.  Leftover hot food must be discarded.  If food has spilled inside the cambros, please use the utility sinks located in the Sullivan House laundry facility to the left of the main entrance to clean out any mess.

 

When you have replaced the milk crate and cambros in the location in which you found them, please fill out a Homeless Bagged Meal Program Report.  This is important!  The report allows A-SPAN to keep track of how many people benefit from the Program.  It is also essential that we hear your suggestions and concerns.  If you forget to fill out a program report, please call or email the Volunteer Coordinator with the information at 703 820 4357 ext. 17 or aspanvolunteer@aol.com.

 

 

 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR COMMUNITY!