In-Person Volunteer Trainings

Required Volunteer Trainings

Shelter Night Expectations For Guests

Coming soon!

Additional Recommended Training

Fire Watch: SWSN and the Englewood Fire Department

Coming Soon!

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.