Almost Home is a residence for families of children receiving treatment in Kingston hospitals. The house accommodates up to eleven families. Almost Home is also open to families and caregivers who need a respite during the day or the evening, but who are not staying overnight. Almost Home is entirely community supported and receives no government funding nor agency funding. We solely rely on donations and voluntary services. The following areas require active volunteer support, some more often than others:
Relief Managers Almost Home is staffed twenty-four hours a day. Generally, during the day, the Executive Director is responsible for the house with the live-in Night Manager covering the overnight hours. Volunteer relief managers are needed for evening and weekend shifts. Day shifts generally only occur when the staff are required out of the house.
Relief Managers are primarily responsible for welcoming guests to the house, answering their questions, and familiarizing them with the general guidelines of Almost Home. They are also responsible for all telephone communications, e.g. enquiries and messages, and for some small household duties such as re-stocking rooms and keeping the coffee perking. Perhaps the most important and enjoyable aspect of the relief managers’ work is the opportunity to talk to the guests.Relief managers are asked to commit to at least one shift every two weeks and make an ongoing commitment to Almost Home.
House and/or Grounds Volunteers Volunteers are needed to assist with regular housekeeping tasks (e.g. cleaning common areas in the House, re-stocking rooms that have been vacated so that they are ready for the next family), and general interior and exterior maintenance and groundskeeping. Almost Home relies on families and volunteers to help keep the house clean and the grounds in good order.
Board Volunteers Board volunteers meet monthly. A term is for 3 years with active participation of a Board member on a committee.
Fund Raising Volunteers Fund raising volunteers may choose from a variety of interesting tasks: helping organize a fun event, helping with media output, picking up Coin Houses, stuffing envelopes, making phone calls, and asking for donations. Fund raising volunteers report to the Development Office.
Volunteer
What Do Almost Home Volunteers Do?
Almost Home is a residence for families of children receiving treatment in Kingston hospitals. The house accommodates up to eleven families. Almost Home is also open to families and caregivers who need a respite during the day or the evening, but who are not staying overnight. Almost Home is entirely community supported and receives no government funding nor agency funding. We solely rely on donations and voluntary services.
The following areas require active volunteer support, some more often than others:
Relief Managers
Almost Home is staffed twenty-four hours a day. Generally, during the day, the Executive Director is responsible for the house with the live-in Night Manager covering the overnight hours. Volunteer relief managers are needed for evening and weekend shifts. Day shifts generally only occur when the staff are required out of the house.
Relief Managers are primarily responsible for welcoming guests to the house, answering their questions, and familiarizing them with the general guidelines of Almost Home. They are also responsible for all telephone communications, e.g. enquiries and messages, and for some small household duties such as re-stocking rooms and keeping the coffee perking. Perhaps the most important and enjoyable aspect of the relief managers’ work is the opportunity to talk to the guests.Relief managers are asked to commit to at least one shift every two weeks and make an ongoing commitment to Almost Home.
House and/or Grounds Volunteers
Volunteers are needed to assist with regular housekeeping tasks (e.g. cleaning common areas in the House, re-stocking rooms that have been vacated so that they are ready for the next family), and general interior and exterior maintenance and groundskeeping. Almost Home relies on families and volunteers to help keep the house clean and the grounds in good order.
Board Volunteers
Board volunteers meet monthly. A term is for 3 years with active participation of a Board member on a committee.
Fund Raising Volunteers
Fund raising volunteers may choose from a variety of interesting tasks: helping organize a fun event, helping with media output, picking up Coin Houses, stuffing envelopes, making phone calls, and asking for donations. Fund raising volunteers report to the Development Office.