Run entirely by students and volunteers, HSHS has a very large group of dedicated volunteers who contribute a wide variety of skills and time to the shelter. We normally have 14 directors, 14 supervisors, and around 150 volunteers.
Breakfast (6:30-8:30 AM): Breakfast volunteers, arriving between 6am and 6:30am (except on Saturdays when they arrive an hour later), help the overnight volunteers cook breakfast for the guests and clean up the shelter. The shift ends when the shelter has been swept, mopped, and scrubbed down.
Dinner (7:00-9:15 PM): Dinner volunteers have a wide variety of tasks, from food salvaging from the Harvard dining halls, cooking dinner, and preparing the shelter for the arrival of guests, to greeting guests as they arrive, serving dinner, and running plates of food outside to those who are hungry but do not have a bed reserved for the night.
Evening (9:00-11:15 PM): Although not all fun and games--volunteers of this shift are mainly responsible for helping clean up after dinner--this shift is often cited as the most relaxing and laidback. Other than maintenance chores such as laundry and dishes, volunteers are free to sit back, chat, play cards or board games, or watch tv and movies with the guests.
Overnight (11:00-8:30 AM): Often dubbed the hardcore volunteers, overnighters work the longest shift. Other than assisting the breakfast volunteers with morning chores, however, tasks on this shift tend not to be demanding. Awake shifts are drawn up by the overnight supervisors so that everyone has scheduled sleep times. While overnight shifts perhaps one of the most demanding shifts, many volunteers find them to be one of the most fulfilling.
Resource Advocates (7:30-10:30 PM) Resource advocates connect guests with community resources in order to facilitate the transition back into housing. Trained by professional lawyers and social service workers, they help guests with everything from resume building and job search to helping them sign up for health insurance and affordable housing. They also partner with community organizations such as Homestart as well as the Cambridge Student Partnership n the Multi Service Center, so that guests can continue accessing the same services after they leave our shelter. No prior experience necessary.
To volunteer, contact: hshs.volunteer@gmail.com