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First Baptist Church is partnering with Wake County Continuum of Care's White Flag program once again this winter to provide temporary emergency shelter to our unhoused neighbors on very cold nights when temperatures are forecast to be 35 degrees or below.
This year, we'll be hosting men starting in early December until March 31, when the season ends. When White Flag has been activated, up to 60 guests will arrive at 7pm to spend the night in FBC's fellowship hall, leaving the following morning by 7am. On Wednesdays, guests will arrive at 8pm after evening programs are finished. The county contracts with a local nonprofit to manage White Flag shelters in terms of overnight staffing, supplies, and logistics.
This season, FBC, in partnership with Community United Church of Christ and Church of the Good Shepherd, will provide volunteer support and meals. Please note that volunteers will NOT spend the night at FBC—the staff handles overnight care.
Here are the many ways you can help:
1) Help with set-up, 4:30 or 5pm until 5:30 or 6pm (exact times TBD) — set up cots and staff tables, roll sheet and blanket sets, prep the percolator to brew coffee.
2) Help with "hospitality," 5:45 or 6pm until about 7pm (exact times TBD) — pour brewed coffee and hot water into carafes, place sugar packets, creamer, and cocoa packets into cups; put casseroles in the convection or warming oven to heat up if needed; assist White Flag staff as needed with intake.
3) Help to serve meals, 7–8:30 pm — depending on the meal that evening, retrieve casseroles from the convection or warming oven or sandwich trays from the fridge; set up the serving table with disposable plates, forks, and serving utensils, then serve the food to guests; throw away foil pans, plates, etc., clean serving utensils and break down tables. NOT on Wednesdays
4) Morning breakdown, 6:30-7:45am — help White Flag staff to move cots and supplies to the stage in the fellowship hall, break down and move tables, rinse carafes, etc.
5) Form or join a meal team — Church of the Good Shepherd's main role this year, in addition to volunteer support, will be organizing meal teams to provide simple casseroles, sandwich platters or pizza on White Flag nights. They would love help with this, either once or several times!
6) Donate breakfast or snack items — cereal bars, granola bars or protein bars, fresh fruit or no-sugar-added fruit cups for guests' grab-and-go breakfasts; individually packaged crackers, chips or cookies.
7) Donate to support the White Flag ministry at FBC by check or online through PayPal.
If you are interested in volunteering with the White Flag ministry this winter—whether one time or regularly—please fill out this simple form to receive emails when White Flag nights have been declared. Please note that activations are announced several days ahead so you will have planning time. If you volunteered last year, you do not need to fill out the form unless you'd like to form or join a meal team!
Contact Holly Cook with any questions. Thanks very much for your help! |
