Volunteer
Our team of caring volunteers is dedicated to supporting individuals and families in their walk out of homelessness.
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You get more than what you give"
-Tim, Wings Delivery Team Member
What's it like to volunteer for Wings?
Wings has a well-designed structure that allows you to choose how much time you want to volunteer. We work around your schedule and availability. You tell us what deliveries or shifts you want to do - it's that simple!
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Still curious?
Hear more from Tim about what it's like to volunteer with Wings.
Open Volunteer Positions
We have the following volunteer positions open and we really need more Spanish language speakers:
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Vital Docs Volunteers:
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Notaries (we can reimburse you for your training if you don't have it already) (in person)
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Notary Assistants - help people experiencing homelessness get their birth certificates so they can get housing, employment, and benefits (in person)
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Birth Certificate Whisperer - communicating with clients online or by phone about their documents (can be remote or in person, click the link to read more about this position)
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Welcome Home Volunteers:​
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Delivery Team - Deliver move-in kits to people exiting homelessness into permanent housing (in person, in various places around Santa Cruz County)​
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Welcome Home Coordinator - process case manager requests and match the requests to available volunteers (remote)
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Basket Preparer - Prepare Welcome Home Baskets for delivery (in person at our storage units)
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Volunteer FAQ
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What is the process for signing up to volunteer?
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First, fill out the application. Then we'll contact you to set up an orientation (virtual), and then you'll attend our training (virtual). Once those are complete, you'll get a LiveScan, and then you'll work with the Program Manager to get set up in the position of your choosing. ​
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Are all volunteer positions in person?​
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No! We have several remote positions. ​
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Do I have to live in Santa Cruz to volunteer?​
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Nope, for our remote positions, you can volunteer from anywhere with a phone and internet connection!​
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What is the time commitment to volunteer?​
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The initial time commitment is around 4 hours (orientation, training). After that, it depends on what you choose.
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Vital Docs volunteers' hours revolve around our office hours at the local libraries (late mornings) one to two times per week. The Vital Docs Admin position is around 3-5 hours per week with a flexible schedule.
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For our Delivery Team, we work around your schedule.
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Some people volunteer by helping us get the word out to groups and companies they are affiliated with. This kind of schedule and time commitment is entirely up to you.
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Do I need to have a Driver's License to volunteer?​
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To be a Delivery Team member, yes. To volunteer in any other capacity (Vital Docs, Basket Prep, event planning, etc), you don't need a Driver's License, but you do need reliable transportation to be able to get to our office hours (on bus routes) or our storage sheds (not on a bus route).
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Can my volunteer time count for community service or education-related service learning requirements?​
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We're not currently set up to do community service hours through the courts. However, if you need them as part of an education program, email us (info@wingsadvocacy.org), and we'll see if we can do them. ​
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Do I need an email to volunteer?​
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Yes, volunteering requires regular & responsive access to a personal email. We coordinate all volunteer tasks and scheduling through email, so it's important that you're comfortable using it to communicate on a regular basis. ​
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Why do you ask what company I work for on the volunteer application?​
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Many companies give donations to organizations where their employees volunteer. We like to know which companies our volunteers work for so we can maximize investment in our mission. It isn't required, though. ​
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I don't think I can commit to being a volunteer, are there other ways I can help Wings' mission?​
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Absolutely! You can:
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Organize a supply drive for us
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Become a Friend of Wings to be on our short list when we need help with various tasks (email info@wingsadvocacy.org if you have questions)
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Become an Ambassador for us by using your social platforms to educate and spread awareness of homelessness and our mission
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Like, share, and comment on our posts on Facebook, Linked In, and Instagram to help boost our message so more people hear about us! See social link icons below
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