NEST Volunteer sign-up

Ghent UMC is joining our neighbors from Ohef Sholom Temple to provide meals and monitoring for NEST January 20-27. Ghent UMC's dates are Friday afternoon through Saturday morning, Jan. 22-23.

It was decided by the leadership of NEST and the city to have one location this year at at First Presbyterian Church (820 Colonial Ave) because the COVID safety set-up is so involved! All volunteers will enter First Presbyterian Church (820 Colonial Ave) from their parking lot off of Redgate Ave (through the large glass doors).

All volunteers must be masked, and according to VA UMC guidelines, all volunteers:
1. Must NOT have Covid-19, or 2 or more Covid-19 symptoms, in the previous 14 days.
2. Must NOT have exposure or possible exposure to anyone with Covid-19, or 2 or more Covid-19 symptoms, in the previous 14 days.
3. Must notify Pastor Melody Tanner and seek medical attention if they develop Covid-19 or 2 or more Covid-19 symptoms after volunteering.

To volunteer, sign up below! If you wish to volunteer another day, please contact the church office and we will connect you with the Temple.

The volunteer opportunities are as follows:

1. Meal Preparation - Four people will prepare a meal in OST's kitchen. The meal has to be sized to fit into clamshell containers.

2. Meal Team - This group will transfer the food into clamshell containers and then deliver to tables. The guests will retrieve their meals and retreat to their cubicles to eat. The volunteers will prepare bagged lunches for the following day, clean up the kitchen, and also assist guests in getting settled for the night.

3. Check in Table/ COVID screening - These volunteers will serve as the official greeters for our NEST guests. You will be indoors behind a vinyl barrier. Each guest and volunteer will be screened for symptoms and temperature. The guests will given wipes to sanitize their hands and then will be checked in.

4. Late Evening and Overnight Monitors - These volunteers will monitor our guests as they get ready for bed and as they sleep. There is very minimal interaction with our guests during these shifts. You must be age 18 or older.

5. Breakfast Service - This team will fill clamshell containers with a hot breakfast and place them on tables for the guests to retrieve. They will help our guests checkout and clean up the serving area and kitchen.

For more information, please contact Faye Joseph, our NEST coordinator, or the church office.