Thank you for your willingness to provide hospitality and friendship to our guest families. These notes are intended to provide you with the information you will need. Please read this document carefully. You do not need to print it out! A copy of it will be at New Covenant Church in a loose-leaf binder that will be kept:

• In the dining room
  
  
• in the overnight host rooms
  
  
• at the security guard's station
  

If you have any questions, please contact the coordinator from your congregation. Our phone numbers are listed on the contact sheet in the front of the binder. As with many volunteer opportunities, this one will be a great chance not only for you to serve, but also to learn, grow and be blessed. Best wishes for a rich and fulfilling experience!

Here's How to Find Us!

The entrance to New Covenant Church campus, 7500 Germantown Ave. is directly across the street from the Trolley Car Diner. Go into the driveway. Stop at the guard's office (first little building to the right) and park your car and go into the security office. IMPORTANT NOTE: The New Covenant Security Guard Station will provide a walkie-talkie for each volunteer shift. You must stop by the security guard's station to sign in before proceeding to Eagles Hall (where we are staying)

Proceed to Eagles Hall, two buildings down from the security office. Turn right into the parking lot and park your car. Walk around the front of the building to the doorway marked entrance (on the left hand side of the steps). Enter and turn to your right. Go through the door and down the hall a bit. The kitchen and dining room are on your right. The guest rooms are through the doors ahead of you.

The entry door will be locked from 10 AM to 6 AM. You can exit, but not get back in without a guard.

Important General Hosting Reminders

• Please remember that our guests do not want to tell and retell their stories to each volunteer. They meet new volunteers every night. Please let them direct the conversation…keep dialog open-ended. (e.g., no specific questions like, "Why are you homeless?" ).
  
  
• Please keep in mind that help is a phone call away. The first call should be your congregation's IHN coordinator, whose cell phone numbers are on the "Emergency Contacts" page in the binder. There are other numbers you can call, including Rachel Falkove, Executive Director of NPIHN, and Donna Laws, Program Director at NPIHN, who are also available by cell phone almost all of the time (on Emergency Contacts page). In the case of a medical emergency, call 911 first and then call Donna or Rachel as soon as possible. You can also page the security staff from New Covenant Church.



• Please be aware of the importance of leaving all spaces clean and neat, especially the kitchen.

• See under "Overnight Hosts" below about weekends.

• Parents are responsible for their own children. If you want to pick up or play with a child…or if the child wants something to eat…or a child must be redirected…ask the parent's permission before doing anything. Only act without permission from the parent if the child’s immediate safety is at stake
  
  
• Parents are responsible to clean up after themselves and their children. The parents will have arranged their own kitchen duty schedule for clean up

• Do not allow children to go outside unattended. Older children may be allowed, but only the parent can make the determination about their child's ability to be outside without direct supervision. Guests will stay on the main floor. Please try to keep track of where parents and children are at all times to avoid any accidents.

• Attached is a full roster of all volunteers. If you wish to contact the people you are assigned to work with (or those who are volunteering just before or after you), please do so. Sometimes private arrangements are made so that timing can be adjusted slightly for the convenience of one of the hosts. If only one adult host can be present for a short period of time, that is OK. It is good to have one car available at all times in case of emergency if possible. If not, help is not far away. If for any reason, you switch your volunteer time with another volunteer, contact Rachel Falkove NPIHN Exec. Director at (215) 280-1915, so that she can notify the Security Guard of the change.

• There is an outside phone line in the dining room area which you may use. The guests are also free to use it but they are limited to 15 minutes a call.

• There is no smoking permitted on the New Covenant Campus.

• All guests and volunteers are to use the main entrance from the road. Please only use the dormitory hall doors near the parking lot as fire/emergency exits. They are never to be propped open with stones. Thanks!

• Most importantly...HAVE FUN!

Dinner Cooks

Preparing the meal

• While we are hosting 27 guests, you are cooking a complete dinner for about 22 adults, including 2 volunteers and a security guard. This is because the children eat take little portions . We sometimes are missing a few guests for the actual meal, and leave dinner in the fridge for their arrival.
  
  
• Please don't cook using pork, or include a non pork option along with the main course. One child is mildly allergic to peanuts. Please do not cook with peanut oil or peanut butter.
  
  
• Keep it simple. Our guests are not the most adventurous eaters-keep it simple.
  
  
• Salad dressings and condiments will be at the church. Beverages will also be available.
  

Arriving at the church :

• Please arrive between 5 PM and no later than 6:15 PM. If you need to arrive earlier, please contact Rachel Falkove (215) 280-1915 cellor Donna Laws (215) 280- 1791 so that they can notify the security office in advance to expect you.

• Upon arrival at New Covenant make sure to check with the security guard that the door was already unlocked. Follow instructions above to Eagles Hall.

• Walk to the front of the building, past the front entrance where the steps are , and down the little walkway. You will see a sign for the Interfaith Hospitality Network entrance.

• Enter the building . Turn right and make the first right. The kitchen is the first door on your right.

• Leave any instructions with the dinner, as well as what the item is….unless you are staying for dinner and can direct the last minute directions yourself.

Dinner Hosts

• Dinner preparation, serving, and eating is from 6pm to 7:30 PM (often guests don’t arrive home at New Covenant until 6:30)

• You are welcome to bring your children or a friend

• 6:15 arrival at Covenant. Security will unlock main door. Volunteers put on name tags, turn on lights, greet cooks and guests as they arrive. No children under 12 in the kitchen. Set tables with cloths, mats, flowers, napkins, plates, flatware, pitchers of water and juice/milk. Older kids and parents can help. Hosts and guests heat up food and put in serving platters for each table.

• 6:30 when guests are ready, give 10 minute call for dinner. Ask kids if they have washed their hands. Help get guests settled at tables.

• 6:45 Guests and hosts sit at tables. Get volunteer to say blessing and perhaps mention each guest by name. "We’re grateful for our friends....."

• Parents serve their children. Hosts help parents keep kids at table to eat. Goal is that kids sit and eat dinner so they are not hungry later. Depending on how kids eat and what parent say, dessert may or may not be served. Children clear their plates to buffet table and are excused by their parents to play when adults are ready.
  
• 7:15-8:30 Children play. Parents’ clean up, relax, have class

Children in groups by age go with host and parent supervision: groups outside to play with balls, or just run around - see guidelines group to hall in dormitory for books and quiet toys group stays in dining room with games and art if room is free

Parents are in charge of their children. Hosts may offer to play with the children to give the mothers a break, and this play is always with mother’s permission.

Sometimes mothers do not want children to get too excited or dirty before bedtime. Follow mother’s lead. If a child is hurt, take him to mother and explain what happened.

• 8:30 The Overnight hosts should arrive. If they have not arrived by 8:45, please call the volunteer coordinator or NPIHN staff listed in the Impotant Numbers to Call section

• 8:30 Prepare for children’s bedtime
  Wind down the games. Put toys away. no more running. Quiet stories

• Please discourage snacking. Parents help children get ready for bed. wash, teeth, quiet story. Hosts can give gentle help. No phone calls until children are settled in bed for the night. Take messages. Low TV in rooms OK if others can not hear it.

• 9:00 Children’s Bedtime

• 9:00 Curfew week nights.
  Guests should be in unless they have permission of NPIHN. Hosts record later arrivals in log. available to listen. Report problems to Donna Laws, Program Manager at NPIHN, whose contact information is in the front of the loose-leaf binder on the "Emergency

• 9:00 Kitchen Clean up
  A clean up responsibility chart is posted. Between 9-10 PM the parents listed on the chart should attend to the following:
  Dining room - clear and wipe tables, sweep floor
  Dishes - wash and dry
  Leftovers - bag up, put in fridge, give away to volunteers
  Wipe counters, sweep kitchen floor contacts" sheet

  Write in on the refrigerator items that you see need to be replenished, or, if you think of other food(s) that may be purchased. Ask the guests to suggest items and write on list. Guests may also write on this list. Please provide any feedback on food likes and dislikes in the "NOTES" section in the dining room area

Please do NOT leave the building without another volunteer present, who can supervise. Stay until at least one of the Overnight Hosts arrives. Call a coordinator or one of the people listed in the Emergency Contact List in the binder, if there is a problem.

• If you learn of any special concerns or have any of your own, please let either Donna Laws or Rachel Falkove know (numbers listed below). Wednesday night and other nights, the guest parents must attend a Parenting class, given by Ellen Latimore. We will also have Nutrition, Banking/Budgeting and other classes during the week – stay tuned for updates. During these adult classes, please make sure that the children are occupied. Prepare to be playful and pitch in with child care.
  
• Try to re-enforce quiet at bed time. Children should start getting ready for bed at 8:30PM, (a little later on Wed).
  
• Quiet time starts at 9 PM…toys must be cleaned up; put on children’s pajamas, stories read. TVs may be on, but very low and not audible in the next room.

OVERNIGHT HOSTS
Instructions for Overnight Hosts
Arrive at 8:30; Depart the following morning at 7 AM. Bring sheets , blanket, pillow, and alarm clock

• Stop at the Security Guard's Office and pick up a walkie talkie.

• Go to the building and introduce yourself to the guests.

• Put your things in the host's room. Male overnight hosts may use the bathroom on the other side of the building.

• Children should start getting ready for bed at 8:30PM, ( a little later on Wed) Toys are cleaned up; put on pajamas, stories read, and quiet by 9 PM. TVs may be on , but very low and not audible in next room.

• Overhead room lights out by 11 PM. Hall lights may be kept on.

• Wake up by 6 AM. Knock on each door to remind guests still asleep to get up. Leave by 7:AM, unless a later time is agreed upon the night before. If you as the volunteer can stay later, you may be a bit more flexible.

• The maintenance staff person, (Albert), arrives around 6:30 AM You may hear him singing.

• Remember: The door is set to lock behind you. As the last one out, you may not get back in without going to the security guard office.

Welcome to Our Guest Families

Family 1 Annette, with children Jahnnea (9), Karriem (4), Amir (2)

Family 2: Tahiera, with daughter Dajhanne(2)

Family 3: Aliyah Downing, with Kyree 5, Zyree 4 , Quadere 2, Talov, 2 months

Family 4 Regina Chambers, with Darryl 15

Family 5 Nakia Ward, with Mustafa10

Family 6, Carolyn Tuggle with Don 11, Courtney 6, Aaron 2

Family 7: Tyane Davis , with Anthony 3 yrs.

Family 8, Barbara Wright with Bradley,6, Bria 4, Kenaniah,1

Important Telephone Numbers

NPIHN office: (215) 843-5765
New Covenant Security (215) 247-7500

Congregation Coordinator-listed by week assigned

From date:_________________ to date___________________

Name:______________________________________________

Number(s) _________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Donna Laws, Program Director (please try not to call Sat PM to Sun PM Thanks!)

(280) 280-1791

Rachel Falkove, Exec Director (please try not to call Fri sundown to Sat sundown- Thanks!)

(215) 280-1915 cell
(215) 848-6235

Other summer staff/volunteers

Sean Brickley,
Ebony Gordon, intern
Ellen Latimore, parenting instructor
Bob Rossman
Marvin Smith
Jean Warrington
Leah Weisman, volunteer
Anka Wilk, intern

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