As an overnight, host, you will spend time with our guest in the evening and morning, and be available through the night in case of emergency.  The following are general guidelines for the overnight shift.  We will contact you prior to your shift with additional details about the guests for this week.

Plan to arrive at the church a few minutes before 9:00 p.m.  An Aerobed will be provided, but please bring your own bedding.  You might want to bring earplugs (in case of snorers or crying babies).

When you arrive:  sign in the IHN binder (located in the kitchen).  This is where you record any situations that you feel the IHN Day Center staff should know about.  The binder also lists phone numbers and procedures you should follow in emergencies.

Check in with the early evening shift and get the church key.  Introduce yourself to our guests.

Prepare the coffee pot for the next morning.  Instructions are on top of the pot.  Make more juice, if necessary.  There are cans of juice concentrate in the IHN freezer, which is in the back room of the kitchen.  If we need any groceries or other supplies, leave a note on the kitchen table for Jan Jensen (she buys the groceries).  PLEASE check all cupboards and refrigerators/freezers first.  If something is needed urgently call Mary Burns (703-1631).

Tents are for the use of the guests only.  Hosts (and their children) should not enter any tents unless requested by the guest to adjust or replace a bed.  There may be an empty tent available for hosts to sleep in.  If not, hosts may sleep in the living area or in the hallway (which tends to be a little quieter).  Hosts may not sleep downstairs.

Aerobeds:  If a guest asks to have air added to his/her bed, you may enter the tent, pull the electrical cord out of its storage spot, and stick it under the tent flap for someone to grab and plug in to the outlet.  Add air as needed – if it feels very low, or you think there’s a leak, replace it with another bed (extras are stored downstairs near the piano).  Once the bed is inflated unplug the electrical cord and tuck it back inside the mattress. Look here for more information regarding the Aerobeds.

Television:  there is a television/DVD in the hall closet.  If it is used, the following guidelines apply:  any movies must be rated G or PG (nothing PG-13 or higher), video games are not allowed, televisions must be turned off at 9:30 p.m., and they are not allowed in the tents.

Medicine:  the medicine box has a key (attached – to keep it safe from children).  The guests will ask for their medicine when they need it, and will administer it themselves.

Lights out at 10:00 p.m.  Be sure the key is inside, and lock the front door.  There may be an instance where a guest will arrive after lights out.  We will have given you that information in advance.  Please listen for them and let them in.  If a guest arrives late and you have NOT been notified in advance, that information must be written in the binder, and call Mary Burns (703-1631) the following day and let her know.  That is a serious infraction of IHN rules.

Wake the guests at 6:00 a.m.  Set out breakfast food and coffee.

The van will pick the guests up at 7:00 a.m.  Give the medicine lockbox, lockbox key and log book to the van driver.

Clean up:  bathroom, breakfast dishes, empty trash cans in bathroom and kitchen, take trash and recycling to dumpsters in the parking lot (key to dumpsters is hanging on a hook near the big coffee maker).  Cleaning supplies are in the closet next to the bathroom with a box labeled for IHN.  If any of the guests’ linens are soiled please contact Jane Lintott..