Breakfast - Help Prepare & Distribute Breakfast to our Unhoused Community

QUICK OVERVIEW
Our to-go breakfast service is part of our Unhoused Wellbeing Program. Members of our unhoused community visit the centermost mornings for a hot coffee and breakfast which also includes a bag of lunch for later. 

MISSION
Since 1972, the St. Francis Center (SFC) has provided relief and support to homeless and extremely low-income individuals and families in Los Angeles. Much more than a soup kitchen or a food pantry, we offer a unique range of services to sustain and empower those in need. Welcoming all with joy, dignity, and compassion, we dedicate ourselves every day to Serving Hope in our community.

IMPACT
In 2021, the need for St. Francis Center’s services increased greatly, and with it, the need for your help. Five days a week, we've served roughly 71,000 meals to our unhoused community. This year (2022), we added an extra day making it now six days a week instead of five. With your support, you can make the success of feeding more of our unhoused guests possible.
 
VOLUNTEER ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Monday: 7:00 am to 8:30 am 
Volunteers can expect to help prepare hot coffee and the to-go breakfast plates. Volunteers, who feel comfortable doing so, can also help distribute the prepared foods at our front door along with one of our staff members. Volunteers can expect a smaller group of fellow volunteers on these days. 

Tuesday-Friday: 7:00 am to 9:00 am 
From Tuesday to Friday, we host our indoor dining service. Volunteers can expect a larger group of fellow volunteers on these days and a chance to fill any one of the roles below:

• Hosts – With the help of a staff member, volunteers will help control the flow of our unhoused guests during dining service. They help with sitting guests who wish to dine in with us or provide to-go breakfast plates. However, their main priority will be to hand off our to-go breakfast plates. 
• Table Captains – One volunteer is stationed at one or two tables. The volunteer in this role will help keep the table organized during our dining service. This role is the most sought out by all volunteers as it provides a good opportunity for conversation with our guests. 
• Coffee Captians – Volunteers help prepare cups of coffee and provide refills when needed. 
• Kitchen Captian – These volunteers will help in the kitchen by prepping the breakfast plates for both the indoor dining guests and our to-go guests. 

Brief job descriptions are provided here. More details are shared in a welcoming email.

Our breakfast service is a volunteer favorite. While volunteering during our breakfast program, volunteers gain firsthand experience of what our unhoused community members face every day -hunger and other sensitive issues. Becoming an SFC volunteer can also mean a chance to build relationships with our unhoused guests, staff, and fellow volunteers. It’s an opportunity to take a moment to reflect on current community issues and a chance to help SFC in our mission to serve hope.

Lastly, we are always looking for volunteers who are available to commit to volunteering every week on a specific day, to help us reduce turnover. Let us know, perhaps after completing your first volunteer opportunity, if this is something you would be interested in. 

REQUIREMENTS

• Attire: Casual, comfortable attire with closed-toe shoes.
• Volunteers need to be able to lift boxes above 20 lbs., this will require bending and lifting. 
• We are happy to host volunteers ages 8+ (parent/guardian supervision required for volunteers ages 8-13). 

***Please remember to fill out a minor volunteer waiver form if minors (under 18) are attending projects. The form can be found on the L.A. Works website Q&A section. 

​***Volunteer opportunities for court-mandated service hours must be approved 48 hours in advance before starting. Please email Juniper at Juniper@sfcla.org for approval.  *** 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Our program space is limited, and we ask that all volunteers maintain caution as staff will be moving palettes in and out of the warehouse. 

Location
SFC is located at 1835 S. Hope St., Los Angeles, CA 90015.
Parking
Metered parking (coins and credit cards accepted) outside our Center. Meters start at 8 am.

It is a St. Francis Center policy that volunteers DO NOT give money, medication, or rides to guests. If asked, volunteers should politely respond that we can’t give out cash or rides. All requests for assistance should be referred to the Resource office.
 
COVID POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Our guests at the SFC tend to have less access to medical care and are more likely to be immunocompromised. Due to this vulnerability, we are still requiring that volunteers wear masks while at SFC. Thank you for your understanding.

While SFC is taking additional measures to go above and beyond standard COVID-19 health protocols, please be aware there is always a small risk of exposure when going out. Handwashing stations, hand sanitizer, disposable gloves, and disposable masks are readily available when needed.

While we would love to have you volunteer with us, please stay home and recover if you are feeling at all sick and we will see you when you are feeling better.

QUESTIONS? Email Juniper at volunteer@sfcla.org.

All volunteers participating in this volunteer opportunity should adhere to the health and safety guidelines outlined here: https://www.laworks.com/health-and-safety.

By clicking “Sign Up,” I acknowledge that I am aware and understand that I am signing up for Activities that may be inherently dangerous and may expose me to a variety of foreseen and unforeseen hazards and risks including exposure to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”).  The Activities may involve a degree of contact with clients who need assistance and other volunteers who may be carriers of COVID-19 and that personal protective equipment may not be available for my use and/or effective against preventing transmission of COVID-19 whether as a result of my own actions or otherwise.   

By clicking “Sign Up,” I acknowledge that I am voluntarily participating in the Activities and have considered those risks. I hereby expressly and specifically assume such risks, including any and all risk of injury, illness, harm, or loss that I may incur as a result of my participation in the Activities. I hereby fully and forever release and discharge L.A. Works from, and expressly waive, any and all liability, claims, and demands of whatever kind or nature, either in law or in equity, that may arise from my participation in the Activities.