VICTOR VALLEY COMMUNITY WARMING SHELTER VOLUNTEER GENERAL INFORMATION AND POLICIES
High Desert Homeless Services, Inc. (HDHS) and Victor Valley Rescue Mission (VVRM) an outreach of Rescue Mission Alliance (RMA) will not tolerate any form of harassment (verbal or physical) exploitation or intimidation of any nature from volunteers, interns, staff members, program participants or guests.
We are a rescue mission that provides emergency services and recovery programs for the poor and homeless. Please maintain a friendly but respectful and professional interaction with our mission guests and clients. Do not assist any guest or resident with money, medication, gifts or transportation. Do not give out personal contact information, including email addresses or phone numbers. Should a guest or resident request to contact you personally, please report to the Volunteer Coordinator. Please be sensitive to the personal space of our guests (men, women and children). Ask permission before touching any guest or resident for any reason.
DRESS CODE/SAFETY ISSUES
• Administrative volunteers may wear casual clothing appropriate for a professional business environment.
• All non-administrative volunteers must wear closed-toe and closed-heel shoes. Wear modest clothing you are comfortable moving in and don’t mind getting a little dirty!
• All volunteers should be aware that by volunteering in any area assigned, you may be subjecting yourself to wet floors, sharp kitchen utensils, and all such related safety issues of that workspace, and if not careful could potentially result in bodily harm to you or others around you. HDHS/VVRM is not responsible for any accidents that may occur while you are volunteering at this facility or any of the offsite locations where we conduct outreach or special activities.
GENERAL CODE OF CONDUCT RULES
As a volunteer you represent HDHS/VVRM to the public. You accept responsibility for this status and will conduct yourself in a professional manner. You are expected to be clean and sober when participating as a HDHS/VVRM volunteer.
You must maintain the confidentiality of all volunteers, clients, guests, residents and donors about whom you have personal or identifying information. You must not participate in and will report any and all instances of any sort of harassment, exploitation, and/or intimidation. You must maintain an atmosphere of physical and emotional safety for everyone associated with HDHS/VVRM including but not limited to employees, volunteers, clients, guests, residents and visitors.
HDHS/VVRM is an organization assisting vulnerable men, women and children. No one who has ever been indicted or convicted of a violent crime, child abuse or neglect, child pornography, child abduction, kidnapping, rape or sexual offense may serve as a volunteer.
As a volunteer, your activities may include potential hazards, including but not limited to (a) physical activity (including without limitation work with heavy tools and materials), (b) contact with unidentified and unfamiliar persons, (c) travel to and from various unspecified locations and (d) other potential risk of injury. You must be willing to provide volunteer service with the knowledge of the potential hazards involved and agree to accept any and all risks of injury without any recourse to or against HDHS/VVRM.
High Desert Homeless Services, Inc. Victor Valley Rescue Mission Volunteer Agreement and Liability Release
I wish to volunteer for Victor Valley Community Warming Shelter, High Desert Homeless Services, Inc. (HDHS), Victor Valley Rescue Mission (VVRM) or its affiliates (together with RMA). I agree and release HDHS/VVRM as follows:
I have read, understand and will observe HDHS/VVRM’s Volunteer General Information and Policies, as may be updated from time to time.
I acknowledge that HDHS/VVRM is an organization assisting vulnerable men, women and children. I hereby confirm that I have never been indicted or convicted of a violent crime, child abuse or neglect, child pornography, child abduction, kidnapping, rape or sexual offense, nor have I ever been ordered by a court to receive psychiatric or psychological treatment in connection herewith.
I understand that my activities as a volunteer may include potential hazards and risk of physical harm. I am voluntarily participating in this service with the knowledge of the potential hazards involved and hereby agree to accept any and all risks of injury without any recourse to or against HDHS/VVRM.
I hereby release HDHS/VVRM, and the RMA, its directors, officers, partners, agents, employees, successors, assignees, licensees, sponsors, donors, representatives, guests and affiliates from all actions, claims, suits or demands that I, my assignees, heirs, guardians and legal representatives now have or may hereafter have arising out of, based upon or relating to my participation as a volunteer.
I have carefully read this agreement, and the Volunteer General Information and Policies referenced herein, and fully understand their contents. I am aware that this is a release of liability and I acknowledge it of my own free will. †