Dear Friend of Out of the Cold,
All Saints Kingsway Church would like to say thank you for you continued interest and/or participation in our outreach program, Out of the Cold (OOTC) at All Saints Kingsway Church. This is an outreach that seeks not only to meet needs, but more importantly, to build a community of friendship. That posture of friendship informs, or ought to inform, how we go about this ministry. If you’d like to join us in exercising this gift of friendship with any and all, we’d love to have you! We are excited for this year’s program and how God will use you in this ministry.
Blessings,
Patrick+
Out of the Cold Program 2025/2026
The Out of the Cold (OOTC) team is happy that you are interested in volunteering. There are many rewards in being a volunteer with OOTC, a very worthwhile organization. Let us provide you with details about the OOTC in the hope that you will find a fit for the skills that you bring.
The Out of the Cold Program has operated at All Saints Kingsway since 1996. The Program runs every Friday from the first Friday in November to the last Friday in March. We provide dinner and opportunities to socialize, with up to one hundred guests per week.
Our 2025-2026 season will again operate on Fridays, starting November 7th, 2025, and ending on March 27th, 2026. The program is open from 5:30 to 9pm. During this time volunteers are assigned tasks and encouraged to socialize with the guests while following through with their assigned task. Some volunteers come at 5:30 to spend time with the guests before the meal. Other volunteers like to stay after dinner and watch a movie with the guests, provide encouragement at the Art Table, or/and engage with the guests by playing board games/cards or just simply having a coffee and chatting.
Volunteers have an opportunity to assist in the following areas:
- Pre-opening Set up 3:30-5:30pm: Includes set up of tables, chairs, individual place settings, In-take area, Volunteer sign-up area, Art, T.V. and Music Areas.
- Intake 5:00-8pm: Follow set guidelines to welcome and admit guests into the program. Monitor the church area to ensure safety of all. Compile and send an e-mail as a summary of the evening to Committee Members.
- Clothing Table 4:30-7:30pm: Set up and distribute new clothing.
- Used Clothing 4:30-7:30pm: Sorting and set up of used clothing.
- Food Service 5:00-8:00pm: Serve food, drinks and clean-up of dishes and wipe down tables when dinner service is complete.
- Dish Scrapers and Dish Washers 6:00-8:00pm: Set up scraping station, scrape dishes, prepare for washing, run through machine, put clean dishes away.
- Laundry Assistance and Shower Monitor 6:00-9:00pm: Wash and fold clothing, provide towels, hygiene products and disinfect shower stall between showers.
- Art Table 6:30-9pm: Set up Art Supplies, encourage/assist guests, clean up and store supplies and unfinished works.
- Late Kitchen Clean up 8:00-9:00pm: Assure all dishes/pots are cleaned and stored, and counters are sanitized.
- Final Evening Break Down and Church Closure 7:30-9:30: Sanitize tables and chairs and store away ready for the next week. Assure everyone has left the building before leaving.
Volunteers may choose to come weekly or bi-weekly however, please only commit to the hours you know you are available as the program depends on you. In all cases, you will work as part of a team with a Team Lead and other experienced volunteers.
If you are looking for a way to make an impact locally, while giving back to the community, or if you have any questions about the program, the areas, or responsibilities outlined above, I would love to hear from you. Please include your name, e-mail address, phone number, and any areas of interest when responding to this email. I will respond to you by telephone or email within a week of receiving your email. Together we will decide on the next steps.
Thanks for your interest.
Nina Arsenault
OOTC Coordinator
ootc@allsaintskingsway.ca