Ways To Help

Role Details

Furniture Guides

Volunteers accompany clients through the warehouse, helping them select furniture and household goods that best meet their needs.

Key Responsibilities:

• • • Greet clients warmly and introduce them to the process.
    • Listen to clients’ needs (e.g., size of space, family size, any specific items requested).
    • Guide clients to appropriate sections (furniture, linens, housewares, etc.).
    • Help clients evaluate the condition and suitability of items.
    • Maintain an efficient flow of clients through the warehouse and coordinate with staff as needed.
    • Provide a positive, compassionate, and respectful shopping experience.

Ideal Skills/Attributes:

• • • Excellent communication and people skills.
    • Empathy and active listening.
    • Basic knowledge of the warehouse layout and available item

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Check-In and Check-Out Coordinators

Volunteers in this role help track client arrivals, confirm appointments, and note each client’s selected items. This information is used to show impact to funders, manage warehouse usage, and keep clear service records.

Key Responsibilities

• • • Welcome clients, verify appointments, and collect required details (name, household size, etc.).
    • Provide any needed instructions before clients enter the warehouse.
    • Record items chosen, including furniture, linens, and housewares, noting quantities and any special needs (e.g., children’s furniture).
    • Keep accurate logs or digital records to measure how many people are served and how many items are distributed.
    • Enter client and inventory data into a database or spreadsheet, ensuring confidentiality.
    • Collaborate with Personal Shoppers, warehouse staff, and other volunteers to stay updated on client arrivals and maintain accurate inventory counts.
    • Share client feedback and special requests with team leaders.

Ideal Skills

• • • Strong organizational and recordkeeping abilities.
    • Basic comfort with data entry (paper or digital).
    • Friendly, welcoming attitude.
    • Ability to multitask in a busy environment.
    • Keen attention to detail.

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Administrative Support Volunteers

Volunteers assist staff with various office tasks, including scheduling furniture pick-ups, responding to inquiries, organizing paperwork, and maintaining the database.

Key Responsibilities

• • • Answer phone calls and emails, helping donors or clients with inquiries.
    • Schedule pick-ups and deliveries with volunteer movers.
    • Update digital or paper records of inventory and volunteer hours.
    • Assist with basic data entry or other administrative tasks.

Ideal Skills

• • • Comfortable with basic computer programs.
    • Strong communication and organizational skills.
    • Ability to multitask and pay attention to detail.

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Volunteer Movers

Volunteers assist in picking up donated furniture, transporting it to the warehouse, and moving items within the warehouse.

Key Responsibilities

• • • Coordinate with donors for pick-up schedules (if applicable).
    • Load and unload furniture carefully to prevent damage.
    • Place items in designated areas of the warehouse, ensuring space is used efficiently.
    • Work cooperatively with other volunteers to handle bulky or heavy items safely.
    • Adhere to proper lifting protocols and safety standards.

Ideal Skills

• • • Physical fitness and ability to lift furniture.
    • Valid driver’s license (if driving a truck or van).
    • Good teamwork and communication skills.
    • Punctual and reliable.

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Kitchen & Housewares Organizers

Volunteers ensure that kitchen utensils, dishes, small appliances, and other houseware items are organized and readily available. They also assemble “kitchen starter boxes” for clients who need them.

Key Responsibilities

• • • Sort and organize donations of kitchen and houseware items.
    • Check items for cleanliness and functionality (e.g., no cracks in dishes, appliances in working order).
    • Label and store items so they’re easy to find.
    • Create standardized “kitchen starter boxes” with essentials (pots, pans, dishes, utensils).
    • Maintain an inventory and restock items as needed.
    • Ensure health and safety standards are met.

Ideal Skills

• • • Attention to detail.
    • Ability to lift and move boxes (if needed).
    • Organizational skills.
    • Knowledge of basic kitchen essentials.

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Linen Room Organizers

Volunteers sort through donated linens, bedding, and towels, assembling sets for clients (e.g., matching sheets and pillowcases).

Key Responsibilities

• • • Receive and sort linens, checking for cleanliness and usability.
    • Organize items by size (twin, full, queen, king) and type (towels, sheets, blankets).
    • Create labeled “sheet sets” by bundling matching sets together.
    • Fold and store linens neatly for easy client access.
    • Maintain cleanliness and organization in the linen room.

Ideal Skills

• • • Detail-oriented and organized.
    • Ability to maintain a systematic sorting and labeling process.
    • Familiarity with different bedding sizes.

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