Your Time, Energy, and Compassion Are Deeply Appreciated by Our BOBS Guests
Bethlehem On Broad Street is 100% volunteer driven. So your time and personal attention is vital to helping create the joyous Christmas Day environment that will lift the spirits and warm the hearts of our guests. With your help, we’ll give them a welcoming haven filled with fellowship, spiritual support, useful gifts, and holiday music.
We’ll offer our guests an ear and community resource info for their physical and emotional concerns. We’ll serve them a festive, hot, sit-down meal, and give them much-needed toiletries, socks, hats, gloves, and blankets – and, of course, toys for the kids. You can also help before Christmas Day with the advance preparations needed, and/or by donating food. Use the contact options below to find out more on how to help. Please review the volunteer notes below, and then click on the button below, to sign up as a 2023 BOBS Volunteer.
Important Notes for Volunteers
❄ At this time, we plan that wearing facial masks will be encouraged, but optional. Volunteers will need to help encourage and maintain social distancing for waiting lines and seating.
❄ Anyone who has tested positive for (or has symptoms of) COVID-19, RSV, or the Flu, or who does not otherwise feel well, should stay safe and focus on their own wellbeing at home.
❄ All volunteers should wear comfortable shoes and clothing (festive if possible). If your role involves time outside, please dress warmly (with water resistant outerwear if possible), and wear gloves, hat, and comfortable shoes.
❄ There will be plenty of free parking available.
❄ After you sign up online, you will receive an email confirming your volunteer registration and a follow-up email nearer to the event to provide more detailed information.
BOBS Volunteer Roles
Most of the BOBS volunteer activities are listed below. If you register for a family/group, it’s important that you provide a separate registration for each volunteer’s name, and info on whether they are a youth or have special needs. Please also be sure to indicate any shifts for which each registrant is available to help (we appreciate folks who can volunteer for 2 or more shifts). If you are interested in a particular role (or a few different ones), please note your preference when you register. We will try to match you with your preferred role, but to meet the needs of our guests, we may need to give you a different assignment than your requested role.
❄ PRE-CHRISTMAS – Dec. 19th to 24th:
We need kitchen helpers to carve turkey and ham and to prepare side dishes, and other volunteers to help with many tasks, like assembling toiletry packets, sorting gifts, setting up tables and chairs, and other important preparations.
❄ CHRISTMAS DAY – Dec. 25th:
Volunteers serving on the last shift who complete the tasks in their assigned area before the end of their shift are asked to assist in other areas that need help in closing and clean-up.
CREW (7:00 AM-3:00 PM) – Help with event-day set-up, logistics, equipment needs, and wrap-up.
GREETERS (7:00 AM-3:00 PM) – Provide Christmas cheer to guests, guide them to services we offer inside and outside, and help maintain a safe, orderly environment.
VOLUNTEER ROOM (7:30 AM-3:00 PM) – Help greet and register volunteers as they arrive on Christmas Day
GUEST REGISTRATION (7:30 AM-3:00 PM) – Give volunteers and guests a hearty welcome, and provide event information.
LISTENERS (8:30 AM-3:00 PM) – Get orientation in the Church Parlor, and then offer BOBS guests a friendly ear and referral information on local resources and social services.
MUSICIANS (8:30 AM-2:00 PM) – Entertain and inspire guests and volunteers with live Holiday music. Times will be individually arranged
SERVERS (10:30 AM-3:00 PM) – Serve Christmas dinner, dessert, and beverages to our guests; 1st shift helps with set-up; 2nd shift helps with clean-up.
GIFTERS (10:30 AM-3:00 PM) – Distribute toiletries, winter wear, blankets, and toys to our adult and youth guests inside.
