**PB&J Special Notes** While making sandwiches might seem like a simple task, it is essential to adhere to strict cleanliness and food safety standards to ensure that our homeless neighbors receive meals that are safe and prepared with care. The following qualifications are necessary for this role: Adherence to Cleanliness Standards: Volunteers must follow restaurant-level cleanliness practices. This includes restraining hair by pulling it back, wearing a hat or hairnet, and ensuring that no loose hair can come into contact with the food. Proper Hygiene: Washing hands thoroughly is a must, and volunteers should also wear gloves during food preparation to maintain hygiene and prevent contamination. Sanitizing Work Surfaces: All surface areas used in sandwich preparation must be cleaned and sanitized before and after use to prevent any cross-contamination. Individual Wrapping: Each sandwich should be wrapped individually. This ensures that volunteers can pass them out easily without directly touching anyone's food, maintaining the highest hygiene standards during distribution. Volunteers should be aware of why we choose peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for distribution. Unlike lunch meat, cheese, or mayonnaise, which require refrigeration and can spoil quickly, peanut butter and jelly can be safely kept unrefrigerated for up to three days. This allows our homeless neighbors to space out their meals over a couple of days, reducing the pressure to consume everything immediately. By adhering to these standards, you will help us provide safe meals to our homeless neighbors in a way that respects their dignity and well-being. Please reach out to tara@backpacksrva.org if you have any questions. Meeting place will be at Murphy's Law parking lot, 6411 Chesterfield Meadows Dr, Chesterfield, VA 23832 Time : Approximately 6:30-7:00pm the Thursday evening that the volunteer signs up for. Coordination with Earnie closer to the date of the sandwich day will pin point an exact time. Volunteers can contact Earnie 804-514-8988 or Tara 804-660-0543 / tara@backpacksrva.org for further questions. **Field Work - Special Notes** Currently we are going out on Saturday mornings until after March 8, 2025, when we will switch to Friday night distribution. We are looking for compassionate and dedicated individuals to join our team in distributing food to our homeless neighbors. This role is vital in providing not just sustenance but also hope and connection to those in need. The following qualifications are essential for this role: Age Requirement and Waivers: All volunteers who go into the field must be at least 18 years old. Additionally, volunteers are required to sign a privacy and release of liability waiver. This ensures that everyone understands the potential risks, even though challenging situations are rare, and emphasizes the importance of preparation. Physical Stamina: Volunteers must be prepared for a lot of walking. Our outreach often involves navigating various parts of the city, and we sometimes travel into the woods and over difficult terrain. Being physically fit is important to carry out these duties effectively. Emotional and Mental Preparedness: Seeing people who are homeless, ill, or in difficult situations can be very challenging. Volunteers must be emotionally and mentally prepared to handle these experiences. Being able to regulate emotions, remain composed, and provide support without becoming overwhelmed is crucial. Calm Under Pressure: While it is rare, volunteers may encounter erratic or aggressive behavior. It is crucial to remain calm and composed in such situations, understanding that these behaviors often stem from difficult life circumstances. Trust Building: Not everyone will welcome a stranger with open arms. Trust is earned over time, and some of our friends may be wary of new faces. Volunteers must be patient and understand that it may take several visits to build rapport. In some cases, you might not meet certain individuals initially and may be asked to stay back out of respect for existing relationships. Respect for Boundaries: Volunteers must respect the boundaries set by those we serve. This includes understanding when to step back and allow Earnie and other long-time volunteers to take the lead, as they have built years of trust with our friends. Awareness of Drug Addiction: A basic understanding of drug addiction is beneficial. This knowledge helps in empathizing with those who may be struggling and in interacting with them in a non-judgmental and supportive manner. Mental Health Awareness: Many of our homeless neighbors face mental health challenges. Volunteers should approach interactions with sensitivity and awareness, recognizing the complexities of mental health issues. Being patient, empathetic, and non-judgmental is crucial in supporting those who may be dealing with these struggles. Gentleness in Sharing Religion: While we may offer to pray for those who seem open, it is important to approach this gently and without pressure. Our primary role is to support and assist, not to witness or proselytize. We trust that our actions will speak for themselves and allow the Lord to work in their lives in His time. Respect for Privacy: We highly value the dignity and privacy of our homeless neighbors. Volunteers are strictly prohibited from taking pictures or videos of their faces. While it might be permissible to take a photo of an area or of someone with their back to the camera, we prioritize respecting their privacy as much as possible. This volunteer opportunity is not just about distributing food; it's about building relationships and supporting our homeless neighbors with dignity and respect. If you have a heart for service and meet these qualifications, we would love to have you join our team. You can choose to volunteer in multiple positions. We ask that you schedule yourself by selecting specific activities and dates that interest you. Reliability is crucial—if you sign up, we need you to show up. While we understand that things can come up, consistency is key to ensuring that our operations run smoothly and effectively. Our team and those we serve depend on everyone’s commitment. Eventually, we would like to add another run during the week, but we must first master these runs consistently with dedicated volunteers with substitutes in place should situations come up. Earnie has done most of this schedule on his own, and we need to take some weight off his shoulders.