July 30, 2007 While volunteers are very much appreciated by our community, they may not receive special privileges. Pay and Purchases Volunteers will not be paid and may not take any merchandise from inventory for free or at reduced prices (see IRS regulations regarding conversion and Federal wage and hour act requirements). Volunteers sort and arrange the new donations, but may not purchase any until after they have been displayed on the floor to the public for one complete sales day. All merchandise must be paid for at the register, like any other customer. The director and permanent staff should pay for all purchases by check or charge card. No goods may be removed without going through the register, when the facility is open to the public. Free and Reduced Priced Goods Once the director has approved disposal of any spoiled goods and before they go in the dumpster, any customer or volunteer may request them. Any such item must immediately be presented at the register and then removed from the building. Typical examples:
Food Any volunteer may receive food at the food pantry, when it is open to the public. The volunteer must meet the guidelines for service. A volunteer working through lunch, who is a food pantry client, may ask receive food to eat for lunch. Both services must be recorded in the food pantry records. Volunteers may bring in snacks for eating during their work day. No food may be eaten in the food pantry area. Beverages Volunteers may bring in beverages for drinking during their work day. No pop tab cans or open top containers are to be opened or used in the building. Sippy cups, cups with lids and straws, and screw top bottles may be used, but must be capped when not being used. Volunteers may not select or drink beverages at random from the food pantry stock. All Food Bank supplied beverages for volunteers must be preapproved from the Food Bank. Community Service – Court Appointed and Others Reporting Hours Volunteers, seeking credit for their hours of service, may supply their own time sheet or we will provide our standard form. They should call and confirm that we have staffing hours available, when they are able to work. Volunteers who wish documentation for hours worked must take a minimum 30 minute lunch or rest period any time they work or agree to work 8 hours or longer in a day. The lunch period may not be at the start or end of the work day. The lunch period will not be counted as time worked. They may take one 15 minute rest period in any 4 hour shift, which will be counted as time worked. Any other breaks will not be counted as time worked. This individual needs to sign in when ready to start work, sign out for lunch, sign in after lunch, and sign out when ready to quit for the day so the hours can be recorded accurately. We are required to report hours actually worked for individuals reporting to certain organizations, not just the hours spent on our property. We are not permitted to record hours not worked, pay for services rendered, or permit others to work these hours in another individual's name. Dress No open toe footwear or high heels. Clothes should be clean and neat. Age First time volunteers must be 16 years old. Exception: Parents may bring their younger children, but must supervise them at all times. Organizations must have preapproval to bring in younger children and then fully supervise them. Monitoring Security cameras record activity in the parking lot and building 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. They are available for review by staff and law enforcement. |