Willing Hearts has a simple philosophy when it comes to volunteering – Just come with a warm smile, two helping hands, an open and willing heart, and one simple question “How can I be of help today?” That is all it takes to volunteer at Willing Hearts!
Operation Hours
The Soup Kitchen opens daily – yes! 365 days a year inclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, Public Holidays such as New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year 1st and 2nd Day, Good Friday, Labour Day, Vesak Day, Hari Raya Puasa, National Day, Hari Raya Haji, Deepavali and Christmas.
It operates from 5.00 am to 5.00 pm –
Get involve time to follow as :-
- Early Morning (5.00am to 9.00am) – Limited to 50
- Morning (9.00am to 1.00pm) – Limited to 50
- Afternoon (1.00pm to 5.00pm) – Limited to 50
The flurry of activities starts as soon as the doors to the kitchen are open. Pots and pans are constantly clanging. Grills sizzle while dishes for the day are prepared. Smells of freshly cooked rice fills the air. Hands busy scooping and packing meal boxes. Sloshing and splashing water while cleaning and washing up. Preparing ingredients such as the chopping of vegetables of the next days. It continues through the day until the last task is completed and the kitchen cleaned and ready for the next day.
(Phew! What a mouthful!)
Remember to stay and help with the cleaning. Please help us help you create a safe, conducive environment by cleaning up as you go along… every little bit helps!
Here’s what a typical day looks like (sometimes, it varies a little)
- * 5.00am to 9.00am – Cooking 40%, Packing 40%, Cleaning 10%
- * 9.00am to 1.00pm – Preparation 50%, Cooking 20%, Packing 20%, Cleaning 10%
- * 1.00pm to 5.00pm – Preparation 70%, Cleaning 10%
- * where help is needed most
Volunteer Roles
When you first arrive at Willing Hearts, you may find yourself “lost” in the midst of the hustle and bustle of activity in the kitchen. Do not worry – many first timers tend to feel “lost” so here is a list of various stations, which are available for volunteers to help at –
- Preparation of ingredients – This would include chopping vegetables, opening bottles and packets of seasoning and sauces, opening cans and packets of food, and just about any other task so the meals can be cooked and delivered on time.
- Packing of Lunch Boxes – This is a relatively simple task: line lunch boxes, scoop a portion of rice along with the dishes for the day, close lunch box and put it into the delivery basket.
- Cleaning and Washing – This is often the most overlooked part of the whole operation. Used trays, covers, baskets, cooking utensils, pots and pans all need washing.
- General Help – There will always be someone who needs a helping hand at the soup kitchen. Someone WILL grab you along the way, asking for help.
If someone tells you that the station that you have approach does not need help, please do not be disheartened – what you can do is to move on to another where help is required. There is never too much help.
Just a little mention on family volunteers – Often we are asked if children can volunteer alongside their parents at Willing Hearts. We encourage families to volunteer as a unit with open arms. We see many families volunteering together as a unit. While we do not have a specific age limits, parents are still responsible for the well-being and safety of their children, especially those below 16.
Just a little mention on Values in Action / Community Involvement Programme (CIP) – Yes! we do grant VIA/CIP Hours! What you need to do is create an account on our Portal and by scanning our Check-In & Check-Out QR Code at the screening station on the SAME day – this will be the proof of your presence in the kitchen. Without this no VIA/CIP or CSR will be granted.
Responsibility of Kitchen Volunteers
- Volunteers are encouraged to practice good personal hygiene, including frequent handwashing and wearing a mask at all times. Make sure the mask fits to cover your nose, mouth and chin.
- We ask that all volunteers be in good health, if you are experiencing any symptoms of illness (coughing, runny nose, fever, nausea, sore throat, etc) we kindly ask that you choose another time to volunteer. In dining hall, please use the plate and utensils provided and wash it after consumption. DO NOT use the Styrofoam packs as this is for our morning food packing for beneficiaries.
- Do practice safe distancing and avoid talking to each other unless necessary.
- Our beneficiary’s health and safety of our food is our top priority.
- Do not use wireless earphone while working in the kitchen.
- If you injure yourself in any way, please inform a kitchen staff immediately. A first aid kit is available for cuts and other minor injuries as needed.
- In the event your injury is serious, we will contact an ambulance immediately.
Responsibility of Volunteer Drivers
- Treat all food recipients, volunteers and staffs with dignity and respect and behave in a calm manner. Treating others how you would like to be treated.
- Maintain the confidentiality and privacy of beneficiaries, volunteers, staffs and other people
- Ensure that all food deliveries are send within the allocated time.
- Respect the information provided to you, on the basis that the information is given to you is based on best intentions.
- Not judge others on the basis of perceived need as everyone receiving this service is equal.
- Provide true and accurate information to volunteers and staffs so that appropriate support can be provided, alerting others to potential adversity.
- Work together with the volunteers and staffs to network and engage with other services being aware of your surroundings.
- Don’t place yourself at risk.
- Show consideration and respect to volunteers and staffs, accepting that there are limits to the services that we can provide.
- Understand that whatever services can’t be provided, we will make the necessary the referrals.
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What do you need to be aware of? Click here.