Volunteer hosts will fill one or more of these roles during host week:
1. Dinner Preparers.
(2 or 3 volunteers, in advance of 6:00 pm)
Dinner is a hot meal prepared at volunteers’ homes or at the congregation kitchen. It is served at or around 6:00 or 6:30 each evening. Cooking dinner is a good opportunity for congregation groups such as bible study groups, women’s circles, men’s groups and couple’s groups – to get involved with the Network.
2. Dinner and Evening Hosts.
(2 volunteers, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.)
These volunteers may be part of the dinner preparation team or may arrive to eat with the guests. Dinner hosts socialize with guests, welcome newcomers, and assist parents with children’s needs. Dinner is informal. After dinner, hosts may conduct children’s activities, help with homework, or assist a guest with a particular need.
3. Overnight Hosts.
(2 volunteers, 8:30 – 7:00 a.m.)
Two hosts spend the night at the host congregation. Overnight hosts spend time with guests, help older children with any leftover homework, and are available in case of emergency. They wake guests at 6:00 a.m. Some overnight hosts also prepare breakfast.
4. Breakfast Preparers.
(Possibly 1 or 2 volunteers, 6:00 – 7:30 a.m.)
On weekdays, breakfast is a quick, simple meal (cereal, muffins, toast, juice, coffee) because guests must be ready to leave on the van at 7 a.m. At some congregations overnight hosts prepare the breakfast; at others, one or two volunteers arrive at 6:00 a.m. to prepare breakfast then clean up. Allowing the overnight hosts time to leave in time for work. Often on weekends, breakfast is more relaxed and hosts prepare something more substantial, such as bacon and eggs or pancakes.
Other Volunteer Opportunities
1. Supplies. Volunteers either purchase (using congregation funds) food items, paper products, cleaning supplies, and other needed items.
2. Activities. Volunteers plan and organize special activities and events, such as arts-and-crafts projects, video parties, and outings for children and families.
3. Van Driver. These volunteers are available and capable of driving the GCIHN van at 7:00 a.m. to the Daycare, School and Day Center; and in the afternoon from the Day Center back to the church at 4:30 p.m.
4. Laundry. Each host week, one or two volunteers wash the towels and sheets owned by the congregation.
5. Setup and Takedown. Volunteer teams set up the bedroom areas before the guests arrive and take down the beds and reset the rooms used, so those areas be used by the congregation again, on the following Sunday morning.
6. Day Center. Volunteers are invaluable additions to the Network Day Center. In addition to providing coverage when the Director is out, they help guests and the Director with many daily activities.
Volunteer Coordinators
Volunteers are supported by other volunteers who serve as host congregation coordinators. Each congregation has a primary coordinator with the responsibility for managing the host week. In many congregations, several assistant coordinators manage specific responsibilities, such as meals, donations, supplies and scheduling, etc.
Coordinators serve as managers of the Network program within their congregations. They should communicate regularly with other volunteers to ensure that host week runs smoothly. Volunteer hosts should report problems or unusual incidents to the primary coordinator for follow-up.
