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Volunteers
Without volunteers, Dorothy Day House could not exist. Here are some ways to help out:
Kitchen volunteers:
Kitchen volunteers are organized into crews comprising 8 to
12 people. There are approximately 20 crews, with most crews working one day a month (ex. 4th Thursday).
Volunteers arrive at the kitchen shortly after noon, and get to work preparing
the meal, which is served from 3:15pm to 4:45pm Cleanup is usually finished by 5:30pm. No special culinary talents are
required.
If you want to volunteer in
the kitchen, you will be assigned to a crew and should be willing to make a
commitment to work one day a month. Right now, we have only a limited openings. For more information, please send an email to dorothydaydanbury@gmail.com
...Please be sure to state when you are available (ex 1st Tuesday) so
we can direct you to the appropriate coordinator for that day.
Making sandwiches:
We provide take out sandwich bags as they leave the afternoon meal. Generally
the kitchen crews for the day make the sandwiches, but sandwich donations
are particularly welcome. During the warmer months (April 15 through November
15 we need 60 meat sandwich bags containing two meat sandwiches and a dessert
plus 25 additional peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. During
the colder months (November 15 through April 15) we need 80 meat sandwich
bags plus 25 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Many groups have recently expressed an interest in making sandwiches (thanks!!),
and currently (as of March 2011) all our sandwich needs are being met.
This posting will be changed if we need sandwiches in the future.
Baked good donations pickups:
A number of local supermarkets have graciously made their expired baked
goods available to us, but we need volunteers to pick up donations and
deliver them to Spring Street
We have immediate needs for help with the following deliveries:
- Sunday and Tuesday -- 6:30am -- Shop Rite -- Brookfield -- Bill George
currently hanldes this but needs a backup. Contact Bill at 203-305-2802
- Monday 9:30-10:30am -- Big Y Bethel -- contact Betty Ballard 743-7368
Shelter from the cold volunteers:
During the winter months (Nov 15 through April 15), we open the kitchen
from 6 to 8:30pm to give guests a place to get out of the cold for a few
hours until the shelters are open. Volunteers open up the kitchen, serve hot drinks (and leftover food,
at their discretion) and do a quick cleanup. Generally two or three volunteers
are needed. Volunteers generally come a specific day of the week (ex. Wednesdays,
every other Wednesday). This is a good opportunity for a church or other
group. If interested, please contact Paul Hines (203-792-7494)..
Shelter volunteers:
Shelter volunteers arrive at 9pm at the same time as the guests.
Assisted by a shelter coordinator, who is always present at the
beginning of the evening, they check in guests and pass out linen and
towels. The shelter coordinator leaves around 10pm, at which time the lights go
out. Shelter volunteers do a load of guest laundry in a commercial washer, and
can generally catch a few hours sleep (a bed is reserved for the volunteer,
or they can sit up in a chair) prior to getting the guests up at 5:30. Guests and volunteers leave shortly after 6am.
Shelter volunteers are generally men, and volunteer no more than one
night per month. If interested, please contact Joe Simons at 746 7189.
More info for prospective volunteers is in the attached shelter brochure. Click here to see brochure.
Overflow shelter (winter months):
During the winter, the First Congregational Church of Danbury hosts an
overflow shelter in Pilgrim Hall. Volunteers are needed to spend the
night. For more information, call Annie
Orr at 748-1991.
Monthly general cleaning:
Although it is the responsibility of each kitchen group to
leave the kitchen clean prior to departing, a group of especially dedicated volunteers meets the first
Saturday of each month at 9am in the kitchen for some serious in-depth cleaning The group cleans the walls, shelving, fans,
refrigerators, etc. If you would like to help out on a Saturday, please call Joe Simons at
203-482-6359 to make sure the group is meeting.
Morning Glory Breakfast Program:
Breakfast is now served Monday through Friday from 6:30am to 9am. Volunteers
are organized through Catholic Charities. Additional volunteers are needed
-- if you can help, please call Michelle Conderino at 748-0848 ext 231
Weekend Breakfast Program:
Most Saturdays and Sundays during the year, volunteers coordinated by Christian
Community Outreach Ministries cook and serve a hot breakfast from 7am to
9am in the kitchen. For more information, contact Michelle Cook at 203-794-9672.
Dorothy Day House Tours
If you are stopping by Dorothy Day House and would like to see the kitchen,
donation storage area and shelter, please call Betty Ballard (743-7368).
If she is available, Betty will be glad to show you or your group our facilities
and explain more about our work..
Ideas for elementary and high school aged children:
Here are some things you can do to help out at Dorothy Day House:
1) Conduct a food drive. See the "wishlist" on our
for ideas
2) Make sandwiches -- see above
3) Have a bake sale or other event to collect money
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