Are you looking to fulfill some hours for a class assignment or Community Service? Are you a group looking for a day project? Are you an individual trying to get involved and make a difference? Have you been court ordered to volunteer?
Volunteers are paramount to the success of Winona Volunteer Services. We depend on a broad base of community support doing a variety of tasks, working together, providing that personal touch, to ensure we meet our program goals and agency mission.
The Food Shelf, the Clothes Shop and delivering Home Delivered Meals are the three main program areas where volunteers are placed.
Depending on your availability and your level of commitment we may have a job that’s just right for you. We need volunteers who are willing to take on one shift for at least a year and we also need volunteers who are willing to do a job for just a few hours.
And don’t be fooled by our name, Winona Volunteer Services. We are not a volunteer resource center, and we do not place volunteers in positions for other organizations around the community. We recruit and train volunteers to perform specific tasks that support our mission and help our customers.
Steps to Volunteer
Step 1: View all current volunteer opportunities by reading the position descriptions to determine your area of interest.
Step 2: Complete the Volunteer Interest Form online then hit the submit button when completed.
Step 3: Sign up for an orientation date and attend the WVS orientation. This orientation lasts about an hour long and gives you knowledge and an overview of WVS. You will receive an email confirmation once you have selected an orientation date.
- Step 4: After the orientation session, connect with the volunteer coordinator to schedule a placement interview. Attend your placement interview. Bring your schedule and knowledge of your availability for volunteering.
- Step 5: After the discussion, the Volunteer Coordinator may accept or deny your application to volunteer. You should receive a response within 3 business day. If your application is denied we will contact you to let you know the reason for denial.
Step 6: If your application is accepted, the Volunteer Coordinator will set your schedule to start on the job training.
Food Program
Volunteer Job Descriptions
Purpose
To greet client at door and check client’s card to verify eligibility.
Time Commitment
1 three to four hour shift, once a week
Location
402 East 2nd Street
Trained and supervised by
Volunteer Coordinator will provide orientation, training and ongoing supervision
Responsibilities
– Welcomes clients
– Identifies valid and invalid Supplemental Food Shelf cards
– Provides process if invalid card
– Monitors who comes into the Supplemental Food Shelf
– Keeps carts orderly
– Follow food shelf policies and procedures
– Attend regular meetings
Qualifications
– Authorized for Zone 1 (pass the SFS card test, fluent in card reading)
– Able to stand and lift 10 pounds
– Able to work with a diverse clientele
– Maintain confidentiality.
Benefits
– Be part of a team
– Meet new people
– Provide food to those in need
– Enjoy special volunteer events
Confidentiality
Volunteers will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. Volunteers are expected to honor the privacy of all clients
To provide excellent customer service by engaging with clients.
Time Commitment
1 three to four hour shift, once a week
Location
402 East 2nd Street
Trained and supervised by
Volunteer Coordinator will provide orientation, training and ongoing supervision
Responsibilities
– Assist shoppers with food items
– Help shoppers understand item counts and limits
– Offer recipe ideas
– Open and break down cases, discard cardboard and plastic
– Follow food shelf policies and procedures
– Attend regular meetings
Qualifications
– Knowledge of items and item limits
– Ability to approve items in cart before checkout
– Able to stand and lift 10 pounds
– Able to work with a diverse clientele
– Maintain confidentiality.
Benefits
– Be part of a team
– Meet new people
– Provide food to those in need
– Enjoy special volunteer events
Confidentiality
Volunteers will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. Volunteers are expected to honor the privacy of all clients
To record client’s data and food weight in our database at time of visit.
Time Commitment
1 four hour shift, once a week
Location
402 East 2nd Street
Trained and supervised by
Volunteer Coordinator will provide orientation, training and ongoing supervision
Responsibilities
– Confirm clients limited food items
– Enter client data and food weight
– Ask shopper to enter and exit scale and move towards the bagging stations
– Follow food shelf policies and procedures
– Attend regular meetings
Qualifications
– Trained and authorized on database
– Ability to count and record weights and numbers accurately
– Able to stand and lift 10 pounds
– Able to work with a diverse clientele
– Maintain confidentiality.
Benefits
– Be part of a team
– Meet new people
– Provide food to those in need
– Enjoy special volunteer events
Confidentiality
Volunteers will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. Volunteers are expected to honor the privacy of all clients
To help clients bag groceries and assist with carrying to their cars.
Time Commitment
1 four hour shift, once a week
Location
402 East 2nd Street
Trained and supervised by
Volunteer Coordinator will provide orientation, training and ongoing supervision
Responsibilities
– Assist shoppers with bagging groceries
– Maintain packing area by keeping bags and boxes neat and orderly
– Offers calendars to clients
– Assist clients with carrying groceries to car
– Follow food shelf policies and procedures
– Attend regular meetings
Qualifications
– Trained in bagging
– Able to stand and lift 30 pounds
– Able to work with a diverse clientele and maintain confidentiality
Benefits
– Be part of a team
– Meet new people
– Provide food to those in need
– Enjoy special volunteer events
Confidentiality
Volunteers will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. Volunteers are expected to honor the privacy of all clients
This position requires a background check.
Purpose
Deliver meals to homebound and convalescing clients or those unable to cook for themselves
Time Commitment
Approximately one hour, once a week, for at least one year
Location
Meals are delivered throughout the Winona and Goodview area
Trained and supervised by
Volunteer Coordinator will provide orientation, training and ongoing supervision
Responsibilities
Volunteers pick up coolers with meals at Steak Shop between 10:30AM-10:45AM, deliver one route according to HDM guidelines and return empty coolers & route sheet folder to Steak Shop. Attends regular meetings and maintains contact with Volunteer Coordinator and staff
Qualifications
Licensed driver with current insurance & reliable vehicle. Ability to manage up to 4 coolers, pass background check
Benefits
Be part of a team of drivers providing nutritious meals and a friendly smile to home-bound clients. Enjoy special volunteer events.
Confidentiality
Volunteers will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement.
Purpose
To make sure food deliveries and donations are processed, displayed, and available for the shoppers in a clean and orderly environment
Time Commitment
8AM-1PM, one day every week
Location
402 East 2nd Street
Trained and supervised by
Volunteer Coordinator will provide orientation, training and ongoing supervision
Responsibilities
Will vary but may include weighing, logging, and stocking food donations; stock walk-in freezer and cooler; sweeping and general janitorial duties, breaking down cardboard boxes
Qualifications
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds. Ability to multi-task, be flexible as additional tasks arise, able to work with a diverse clientele
Benefits
Be part of a team, meet new people, help create a quality environment for those in need to shop.
Confidentiality
Volunteers will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement; Volunteers are expected to honor the privacy of all clients
Purpose
Assist with Holiday Food Drives such as the 10 Days of Giving
Commitment
1 – 4 hours depending on the job
Location
402 East 2nd Street
Trained and supervised by
Either the Volunteer Coordinator or project manager in charge of the volunteers will train you according to your task
Responsibilities
Assisting with sorting and stocking food
Qualifications
Varies
Benefits
Be part of a team, meet new people & help those in need
Confidentiality Volunteers are expected to honor the privacy of all clients
Purpose
Assist with Holiday Projects such as the Easter Dinner
Commitment
1 – 4 hours depending on the job
Location
Varies
Trained and supervised by
Either the Volunteer Coordinator or project manager in charge of the volunteers will train you according to your task
Responsibilities
Assisting with Seasonal Holiday food, gifts and community meals projects
Qualifications
Varies
Benefits
Be part of a team, meet new people & help those in need
Confidentiality
Volunteers are expected to honor the privacy of all clients
Clothes Shop
Volunteer Job Descriptions
Clothes Shop positions are temporarily on hold. Follow us on Facebook and the WVS website as we update our progress in recruiting for new and existing positions.
This position requires a background check.
This position requires a minimum of a one year commitment.
Purpose
To ring up customer sales and assist with maintaining a neat and organized store.
Time Commitment
1 four hour shift once a week, for at least one year
Location
416 East 2nd Street
Trained and supervised by
Volunteer Coordinator will provide orientation, training and ongoing supervision
Responsibilities
Volunteer will ring up purchases on iPad, assist in maintaining shop floor, attend regular meetings, maintain contact with Volunteer Coordinator
Qualifications
Able to learn simple iPad operations, provide customer service to shoppers, able to work with a diverse clientele & pass background check
Benefits
Be part of a team, meet new people, help create revenue that supports services provided by the agency, enjoy special volunteer events
Confidentiality
Volunteers will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement; Volunteers are expected to honor the privacy of all clients
Requirements
Complete a background check
Purpose
Sort through donations & hang the best clothing donations for re-sale
Time Commitment
1 four hour shift, once a week
Location
416 East 2nd Street
Trained and supervised by
Volunteer Coordinator will provide orientation, training and ongoing supervision
Responsibilities
Volunteer will sort donations, assist in maintaining clothing racks on shop floor, attend regular meetings, maintain contact with Volunteer Coordinator
Qualifications
Able to lift 25 pounds, possess attention to detail, able to work with a diverse team
Benefits
Be part of a team, meet new people, enjoy special volunteer events
Confidentiality
Volunteers will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. Volunteers are expected to honor the privacy of all shoppers, clients and other volunteers.
Purpose
To assist donors with their clothing and food donations and maintain a clean and organized donation area
Time Commitment
1 four hour shift, once a week
Location
416 East 2nd Street
Trained and supervised by
Volunteer Coordinator will provide orientation, training and ongoing supervision
Responsibilities
Volunteer will accept appropriate donations, assist donors with unloading items as needed, separate clothing, non-clothing and food items, offer tax sheet, provide excellent customer service, attend regular meetings, assist in maintaining a clean and organized working environment and other essential duties as specified.
Qualifications
Able to lift 25 pounds, to work with the public and other volunteers, provide excellent customer service, and follow approved policies and procedures as noted in The Clothes Shop handbook.
Benefits
Be part of a team, meet new people, help raise revenue that supports services provided by the agency, and enjoy special volunteer events.
Confidentiality
Volunteers will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. Volunteers are expected to honor the privacy of all shoppers, clients and other volunteers.
Special Projects
Volunteer Job Descriptions
Purpose
Greet visitors and clients in the Winona Volunteer Services Office, answer the general office telephone and perform clerical duties as requested by staff.
Time Commitment
Anytime, 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday. 2 hour commitment per shift
Location
402 East 2nd Street
Trained and supervised by
Volunteer Coordinator will provide orientation, training and ongoing supervision
Responsibilities
Answer telephone system; receive incoming calls and check for messages. Direct phone calls and messages to appropriate office staff or volunteers. Provide accurate program and service information to callers. Assist with cancellations of Home Delivered Meal clients. Type memos, correspondence, reports, and other documents. File monthly Supplemental Food Shelf Agreement forms. Perform other office duties including filing.
Qualifications
– Friendly, out-going, courteous disposition
– Enjoy working with people
– Good listening and communication skills
– Ability to know when to ask questions and seek assistance
– Willingness to work with a computer
– Ability to accept direction and work independently
– Detail oriented and concern about quality of service performed
– Adhere to Winona Volunteer Services direct service procedures
Benefits
– Orientation, on the job training and on-going job development
– Learn about and be connected with the human service community
– Staff support and camaraderie
– Increase personal growth, career development, field experience and self-confidence
– Enhance advocacy skills, communication skills, listening skills, organizational skills, public speaking skills and feed back skills
– Increase understanding of cultural and lifestyle diversity
Confidentiality
Volunteers will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement; Volunteers are expected to honor the privacy of all clients
As a Service Enterprise organization we aim to strategically leverage the skill and talents of our volunteers. By engaging volunteers effectively we can serve more people in the community and further the agencies mission “with dedicated volunteers and partners, we help people address life’s challenges in a respectful and dignified manner”.
