Chinese Gospel Church Out Of The Cold Program

1. Chinese Gospel ChurchOut Of The ColdProgram 2010-2011 Orientation December 2010

2. Agenda • Mission statement • History of the program • Our guests • Program details • What to expect • Walk through the premises

3. Mission Statement • To provide a safe, secure and warm environment where guests can eat, sleep and hear the Good News of Jesus Christ through our love in action, attitude and words.

4. The History of OOTC • Started in Toronto in 1987 • By students of St. Michael‘s School, with the support and guidance of Sister Susan Moran • CGC started with First Baptist Church in Jan 1997 • We are now in our 14th season • Major change in 2003 – Dixon Hall approached by the City of Toronto to take on the management and operations of the OOTC programs (www.ootc.ca) • There are 20 sites for the 2009-2010 season

5. Who are our Guests? • Homeless • Hungry • Cold • Unstable • Only Adults • Men • Women (for dinner only) • People like you and me: • 1 Corinthians 15:10a – “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.”

6. Circumstances that bring them to the street • Financial losses (loss of employment, new immigrants) • Personal losses (family/friends) • Rejection by family/friends • Chemical dependency • Mental health problems • Emotional instability • Loneliness

7. Respect Acceptance No judgement No questions Safety Courtesy Socialization What do our Guests need? • Warmth • Good meal • Quiet place to sleep • Clothing • Cheerful and helpful volunteers • Clean premises

8. Characteristics of an Effective Program • Warm • Welcoming • Quiet • Clean and safe from physical harm • Christ’s love has been demonstrated • Bottom-line: Guests have enjoyed the meal, have felt safe, have been comfortable and have had the opportunity to experience and hear of Christ’s love.

9. Challenges to Volunteers • Accepting people who are very different • Being cheerful at all times • Working cooperatively with other volunteers • Awareness of hygiene issues • Coping with various behaviours • Identifying risks to self and to others • Maintaining a calm environment • Keeping your emotions suitable to the situation

10. Characteristics of Effective Volunteers • Caring • Polite • Sensitive to needs and surroundings • Enthusiastic • Considerate and punctual • Honouring promises • Aware of non-verbal communication • Key: How do you treat guests within your own home?

11. Security • Support staff from Dixon Hall, trained in crisis/anger management and violence de-escalation • Emergency phone numbers are available • Phones are kept at intake and within the kitchen • Division 52 is up the street!

12. Suggestion to stay safe • Wash your hands frequently • Leave personal valuables at home • Always be seen by others • If in an uncomfortable situation, speak to your shift manager immediately • Do not give money or medicine to Guests – speak to the shift manager if First Aid is needed • Limit personal information given – remain on a first name basis, and do not offer your phone number

13. Program Rules • No smoking within the church • No alcohol or drugs • No weapons • No aggressive or disruptive behaviour • No insults: personal, racial or sexual • No swearing or foul language • No fighting • Rules are posted at the entrance, and new Guests are asked to review and agree to comply with them before admission

14. Details of Our Program • This season – January 6, 2011 to March 31, 2011 (13 weeks) • Between 70-100 volunteers • Dinner and lunch preparation teams as well • Aim is to feed an average of 50-60 and provide shelter for 15 Guests every Thursday night • Money comes from Chinese Gospel Church and from individual donation • Supported by the City of Toronto, which provides payment for the Dixon Hall support staff, and clean blankets for overnight Guests

15. Shifts • Set-Up variable time • Intake 5:30 p.m. start • Dinner 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. • Social 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. • Breakfast 6:00 – 8:00 a.m Friday

16. A Typical Thursday – Set-up • Set-up is done during the day: • Setting up the foyer and intake areas • Preparing the dining area and kitchen • Preparing hot beverages and re-heating food • Isolate the rest of the church from the program by ensuring that all doors are locked • Dixon Hall staff arrives by 5:00 p.m.

17. A Typical Thursday - Dinner • Volunteers arrive and sign-in between 5:45 – 6:00 • Preparation and prayer time in the kitchen • Guests are admitted whenever the dinner team is ready (earlier if there is a “Cold Alert”) • Dinner is served promptly, and whenever new Guests arrive • Social shift volunteers arrive at 7:00 p.m., and begin interacting with Guests • Aim to complete dinner shift clean-up by 8:00 p.m.

18. A Typical Thursday - Social • Volunteers arrive at 7:00 p.m. • Extra tables and chairs are cleaned and put away • Informal time of interacting, talking, and playing card/board games • Food is set aside for latecomers during the social shift, and is re-warmed when they arrive • Mattresses are laid out by around 9:00 p.m., for overnight guests to prepare to sleep • Cleanliness is maintained in the kitchen, in preparation for the breakfast team in the morning • Dixon Hall staff remain overnight

19. A Typical Friday - Breakfast • Breakfast shift volunteers arrive at 6:00 a.m. • Breakfast is prepared in the kitchen • Guests are woken up by 6:30 a.m., and breakfast is served • Mattresses are cleaned and stored away • Bagged lunches are given to guests as they leave, usually by 7:30 a.m. • Final clean-up of the kitchen and sleeping/dining area prior to leaving

20. Thank you for volunteering Any Questions?