Existing Volunteers
Volunteer Sign Up
North Region (Wheat Ridge/Arvada)
Central Region (Lakewood/Edgewater/Golden)
South Region (Littleton/Englewood)
Prayer Requests
Social Media
Volunteer of the Month
The Mueller Family was an intregal part of this season! We appreciate all your hard work!
In-Person Volunteer Trainings
We realize it has been 5 years since we have done an official Volunteer Orientation and Training! All volunteers are strongly encouraged to attend to refresh knowledge and understanding — there are a few new things to learn as well. Please note the opportunites below and plan to attend.
NORTH
Arvada Library: 7525 W. 57th Avenue, Arvada, Colorado 80002
Friday September 22nd @ 3:00pm
OR
Saturday September 23rd @ 1:30pm
SOUTH
Immanuel Lutheran Church: 3695 S. Acoma St, Englewood, CO 80110
Thursday, September 21st @ 5:00pm
OR
Saturday, September 30th @ 1:00pm
CENTRAL
River Church: 220 S Yarrow St, Lakewood, CO 80226
Thursday, September 14th @ 5:00pm
OR
Saturday, September 23rd @ 3:30pm
Required Volunteer Trainings
Goals and Objectives of Emergency Shelter
Coming soon!
Roles and Responsibilities: Staff and Volunteers
Coming soon!
Shelter Night Processes And Partners
Coming soon!
Shelter Night Expectations For Guests
Coming soon!
Additional Recommended Training
Mental Health First Aid: All Health Network
Coming Soon!
Drug Overdose & Narcan: Public Health Department
Coming Soon!
CPR training: Sheryl Reicher LPN, certified trainer
Coming Soon!
De-escalation: All Health Network
Coming Soon!
Fire Watch: SWSN and the Englewood Fire Department
Coming Soon!
Check Out Our Training Videos
Welcome Video
Volunteer Opportunities Overview
Food and Kitchen Overview
Hospitality Host Position (5-8pm)
Laundry Volunteers
Health and Safety Procedures
De-Escalation Training
Volunteer Survey Results: 2022 – 2023
Severe Weather Shelter Network had many changes this past season as we were navigating the transition back into the church.
We had a lot of feedback during the season that we unfortunately couldn’t do anything about in the midst of sheltering. We also sent out a survey to our volunteers at the end of the season to truly understand what they thought needed to be improved. (See images above)
What did the volunteers have to say?
We had many surveys submitted at the end of the season and we compiled all the suggestions that we received during the season with the survey answers.
Overall, most volunteers felt that the move back into the churches went pretty well while acknowledging that were some “bugs” that needed to be fixed going into this next season. We acknowledge that this season was full of constant changes to try to adapt to the post-covid shelter model. There were many differences from the pre-covid model that we didn’t expect and there were many post-covid changes that we thought would help, that ended up not working the way that we thought they would.
One of the big changes to this past season was the addition of our database. We wish we had been able to provide more in person training when it comes to this aspect of shelter.
Many volunteers shared that they would have preferred to have training so that they could have had an easier time using the new system during the season. We will be holding trainings in the fall in order to have our volunteers feel confident about how they are using the database as well as the duties of the roles they sign up for.
We had several Regional Coordinators in each region this past season and we have had some great feedback from our volunteers. Volunteers were having challenges during the season understanding who to contact and what was really needed on a shelter night. Near the end of the season, we adjusted to have one assigned Regional Coordinator per region so that there would be no confusion about who to contact. Moving into this next season, we will be introducing one shelter manager in each region who will be the main point of contact. We believe this will help with the communication challenges, the understanding of needs on a shelter night, and make shelter run more smoothly.
One of the main complaints we received during the season was from our food volunteers. Using the database this past season, they were unable to plan with the other food volunteers for the type of food being brought and there was confusion about what food was already onsite. In the past, we had used sign up genius, which had allowed the collaboration to happen.
We have heard you and we will be bringing sign up genius back this next season for the food volunteers. We appreciate your love for our guests and your desire to ensure
that the meals work together. Shelter managers will also be able to keep track of what food is already onsite to ensure there is no food going to waste this next season.
We appreciate our volunteers and the flexibility and grace that was shown.
Severe Weather Shelter Network would not be able to run without our volunteers and partners. We value the relationship we have with each and every one of you! You are truly the hands and feet of the Church as you show kindness and care for our guests that are in shelter on any given night. We appreciate the grace that was shown as we adjusted the program for return to shelter and the changes that were made to ensure the success of the season. We saw the flexibility that the volunteers and partners showed to us and our guests as different needs arose throughout the season.
You all are the backbone to our ministry and we can never thank you enough for everything you do! We look forward to serving with you in the next season.