DOROTHY DAY HOSPITALITY HOUSE
Feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless in the Danbury CT area since 1982
 

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.   Most crews work 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.   For more information, please contact Betty Ballard (743-7368) or Annie Orr (748-1991).

Current Kitchen Volunteers (and prospective volunteers): We're currently in need of a few people to step up and serve as coordinators. Coordinators oversee one of the regularly scheduled kitchen crews. If you could help here, please call Betty or Annie.

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 Don Lavallee at 791-0197 or donlav@rcn.com.

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 Don Lavallee at 791-0197 to make sure the group is meeting.




"Do not neglect to show hospitality, for by that means some have entertained angels without knowing it" - Hebrews 13:1-2


Dorothy Day Hospitality House
11 Spring Street, Danbury CT
Mailing Address: PO Box 922 Danbury CT 06813-0922
Tel:  (203) 743-7988
E-mail: webmaster@dorothydaydanbury.org



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