VOLUNTEER GENERAL INFORMATION AND POLICIES
Valley Food Bank (VFB) an outreach of Rescue Mission Alliance (RMA) will not tolerate any form of harassment (verbal or physical) exploitation or intimidation of any nature from volunteers, interns, staff members, program participants or guests. We are a food bank that provides assistance for the hungry and food insecure. Please maintain a friendly but respectful and professional interaction with our guests and clients. Do not assist any client with money, medication, gifts or transportation. Do not give out personal contact information, including email addresses or phone numbers. Should a client request to contact you personally, please report to the Volunteer Coordinator. Please be sensitive to the personal space of our clients (men, women and children). Ask permission before touching any client for any reason.
DRESS CODE/SAFETY ISSUES
- Administrative volunteers may wear casual clothing appropriate for a professional business environment.
- All non-administrative volunteers must wear closed-toe and closed-heel shoes. Wear modest clothing you are comfortable moving in and don’t mind getting a little dirty!
- All volunteers should be aware that by volunteering in any area assigned, you may be subjecting yourself to wet floors, sharp tools, and all such related safety issues of that workspace, and if not careful could potentially result in bodily harm to you or others around you. VFB is not responsible for any accidents that may occur while you are volunteering at this facility or any of the offsite locations where we conduct outreach or special activities.
GENERAL CODE OF CONDUCT RULES
As a volunteer you represent VFB to the public. You accept responsibility for this status and will conduct yourself in a professional manner. You are expected to be clean and sober when participating as a VFB volunteer. You must maintain the confidentiality of all volunteers, clients, guests, residents and donors about whom you have personal or identifying information. You must not participate in and will report any and all instances of any sort of harassment, exploitation, and/or intimidation. You must maintain an atmosphere of physical and emotional safety for everyone associated with VFB including but not limited to employees, volunteers, clients, guests, and visitors. VFB is an organization assisting vulnerable men, women and children. No one who has ever been indicted or convicted of a violent crime, child abuse or neglect, child pornography, child abduction, kidnapping, rape or sexual offense may serve as a volunteer. As a volunteer, your activities may include potential hazards, including but not limited to (a) physical activity (including without limitation work with heavy tools and materials), (b) contact with unidentified and unfamiliar persons, (c) travel to and from various unspecified locations and (d) other potential risk of injury. You must be willing to provide volunteer service with the knowledge of the potential hazards involved and agree to accept any and all risks of injury without any recourse to or against VFB.
I wish to volunteer for Valley Food Bank (VFB) or its affiliates (together with RMA). I agree and release VFB as follows: I have read, understand and will observe VFB’s Volunteer General Information and Policies, as may be updated from time to time. I acknowledge that VFB is an organization assisting vulnerable men, women and children. I hereby confirm that I have never been indicted or convicted of a violent crime, child abuse or neglect, child pornography, child abduction, kidnapping, rape or sexual offense, nor have I ever been ordered by a court to receive psychiatric or psychological treatment in connection herewith. I understand that my activities as a volunteer may include potential hazards and risk of physical harm. I am voluntarily participating in this service with the knowledge of the potential hazards involved and hereby agree to accept any and all risks of injury without any recourse to or against VFB. I hereby release VFB, and the RMA, its directors, officers, partners, agents, employees, successors, assignees, licensees, sponsors, donors, representatives, guests and affiliates from all actions, claims, suits or demands that I, my assignees, heirs, guardians and legal representatives now have or may hereafter have arising out of, based upon or relating to my participation as a volunteer. I have carefully read this agreement, and the Volunteer General Information and Policies referenced herein, and fully understand their contents. I am aware that this is a release of liability and I sign it of my own free will. †
By filling out the fields and submissions below, I hereby give the Rescue Mission Alliance the absolute and irrevocable right and unrestricted permission concerning any photographs that are taken or may be taken of me or in which I may be included with others, to use, reuse, publish, and republish the photographs in whole or in part,
individually or in connection with other material, in any and all media now or hereafter known, including the internet, and for any purpose whatsoever, specifically including
illustration, promotion, art, editorial, advertising, and trade, without restriction as to alteration; and to use my name in connection with any use if they so choose. I release and discharge Rescue Mission Alliance from any and all claims and demands that may arise out of or in connection with the use of the photographs, including without limitation any and all claims for libel or violation of any right of publicity or privacy. This authorization and release shall also inure to the benefit of the heirs, legal representatives, licensees, and assigns of Rescue Mission Alliance, as well as the person(s) who took the photographs. I am a legally competent adult and have the right to contract in my own name. I have read this document and fully understand its contents. This release shall be binding upon me and my heirs, legal representatives, and assigns.
† I acknowledge that I have been informed and am aware of the provisions of California Civil Code § 1542, which reads as follows: “A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.” I expressly waive and relinquish all rights and benefits which I have or may have had under said section, and any similar provision of state or federal law. I further understand and acknowledge the significance and consequences of a specific waiver of Section 1542, and any similar provision of state or federal law, and hereby assume full responsibility for any damages or losses sustained by me of any sort or nature that might otherwise have been or are assertable as claims arising directly or indirectly out of, or relating to, this agreement, and any other aspect of my volunteer activities. I also irrevocably grant to Valley Food Bank (VFB) and Rescue Mission Alliance (RMA), its assigns and successors, my consent and full right to use my name, photo, likeness and written feedback in any and all media, publications, advertising and publicity. I grant permission to be filmed or taped by VFB or the news media.
If subject is not yet (18) years old, the child’s parent or guardian must complete and sign the following:
