On January 23rd, the Bullitt County White Flag Shelter was housed at Mercy Hill. It would be open for 44 nights and be staffed entirely by a committed team of volunteers. Meals were provided by local churches, businesses and members of the community. When the shelter closed in Spring, many volunteers were eager to know “what’s next”? Mark 12 Ministries was coming together during those late night shifts at the shelter. We were able to find out what members of the community had to offer and what the needs were.
The Bullitt County White Flag Shelter provides a meal and a warm/safe place to sleep when the temperature is forecast below 35 degrees. Bullitt county does not have any type of temporary or even emergency shelter for the homeless in our community. Unhoused people are living in vehicles, tents, squatting in abandoned properties and various other locations. During the winter, they do not have protection from the elements. This will be the 5th season that Mark 12 will provide an emergency shelter at night when the temperature is forecast to go below 35 degrees.
Volunteers are needed to oversee the shelter between 8pm-8am on these cold nights. Responsibilities include providing a meal and hospitality from 8-10pm. From 10pm until morning, it is “lights out” and teams of volunteers are there to ensure the safety of the guests. Many volunteers in the past have used time to complete craft projects, bible study with a friend, or even catch up on Netflix. Shifts are scheduled in advance and are four hours. We also need volunteers to provide a meal each night that the shelter is open.
Open and closure status of the White Flag Shelter will be announced daily on the Bullitt County White Flag Shelter Facebook page and the Mark 12 website. We encourage you to check before arriving for your shift as
various weather sources may provide different temperatures and cause confusion. We are open to volunteers at
7:30 p.m. and guest check in is from 8pm-10pm
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This number fluctuates. The colder the temperatures, the more guests we tend to have. We average 15-20 individuals each night but can accommodate more.
Speaking with a volunteer coordinator to discuss processes and procedures ahead of your shift is required. Then you may sign up for any shift to volunteer.
You do not need to bring anything with you when you volunteer, but you may choose to bring a phone, tablet, book, puzzle or game to fill your down time.
Open and closure status of the White Flag Shelter will be announced daily on the Bullitt County White Flag Shelter Facebook page and the Mark 12 website. We encourage you to check before arriving for your shift as
various weather sources may provide different temperatures and cause confusion. We are open to volunteers at 7:30 p.m. and Guests starting at 8:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m.
Shift availability is emailed out on Sunday and Wednesday each week. We use Sign Up Genius for scheduling and you can see openings there.
For “A” shift (7:30 p.m. until Midnight) at least 2 volunteers are needed to ensure each area is covered, but we really prefer 3. “B” shift (12:00 a.m. until 4:00 a.m.) 2 volunteers are needed. “C” Shift, 4:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m., our goal is 2 volunteers per shift.
The White Flag Shelter staff takes every precaution to keep both guests and volunteers safe. We are open to feedback to improve safety. We have a direct line to Shepherdsville Police Department which will speed up
response times should there be a need. We are happy to say we have not had any physical altercations occur since our opening. We have protocols in place to help promote safety and prevent incidents. Our guests sign guidelines each night they stay which outlines the rules of the shelter. If a guest violates a rule outlined on that guideline sheet, they may be removed from the shelter and face a suspension.
Absolutely! It’s encouraged! We want our community to grow and expand and inviting friends and family is a great way to make an impact. Please email us and let us know if you plan to bring a partner for your
shift. We love when children get involved and learn to love their neighbors. If you would like to include your child(ren) in volunteering please contact us ahead of your scheduled shift to discuss. Children under the age of 18 may only volunteer until 10 pm.
We completely understand that life happens when you’re busy making other plans! If you sign up for a shift and cannot make it, please let us know as soon as possible. We operate each shift with a minimum of 2 volunteers
for safety purposes and failure to show up for a shift may leave another volunteer without needed support. You may call us, email us, or send us a facebook message.
We have a close working relationship with the police department and the sheriffs office. The officer’s simply need to check the mental status and let us know that it is safe to allow the guest in. If the individual does not want to contact the police, they may not stay with us.
The Bullitt County White Flag Shelter is just one of the resources offered by Mark 12 Ministry. The White Flag Shelter is a temporary low barrier shelter. It is open during the winter nights and is staffed entirely by a committed team of volunteers.
Meals are provided by local churches, businesses and members of the community. During the operation of the shelter, we engaged with both volunteers and displaced people and started to identify the needs of the community.
