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Frequently asked questions

  • Emergency Shelter Questions
    What is the admission criteria? Please call the shelter directly at 780-875-0966 or text 780-808-1777 to speak with a Crisis Intervention Worker. They will ask for specific information related to admission criteria. You can call collect if needed. How do I get there? Please call the shelter directly at 780-808-5282 or text 780-808-1777 to speak with a Crisis Intervention Worker. They can help you make arrangements to come to the shelter. How long can I stay? You can stay for up to 21 days in the shelter. We can make exceptions under special circumstances. How much does it cost to stay at the shelter? Your stay is free of charge. Can my children stay with me? Yes, bring your children. We have a child support team and family wellness workers who are here to support you all during your stay. We will ensure that school aged children will have their educational needs met. What do I do about custody access? We do not offer legal advice, but our Crisis Intervention Workers and Case Plan Facilitators will help you to find the correct information and resources for you to work on custody and access issues while you are in the shelter. What about my pets? If you have pets you want to take with you, let the Crisis Interventionist know when you call for admission. We can make arrangements to accommodate the pets while you stay here. Will my abuser be able to find me? We have many safety measures in place, inside and outside the shelter and will work with you to help keep you comfortable and safe. Unless you leave the building, we will do everything we can to keep you safe. How can I get to my appointments if I am at the shelter? Our Crisis Intervention Workers will help you with your transportation needs. Can anyone contact me while I am staying at the shelter? We take your confidentiality and safety very seriously. Your stay with us will be completely confidential. If someone tries to contact you we will post messages for you so you can respond. Where do I go when my shelter stay is over? Our Case Plan Facilitators will assist you with your housing needs while you are in the shelter.
  • Dol-Mar Manor
    What is Dol-Mar Manor? Dol-Mar Manor is a Second Stage Shelter Program. This transitional housing division of the Interval Home has 5 fully furnished, independent suites for women and children to reside and receive safety, support and education for up to 1 year. Staff are on-site Monday through Saturday during the day. Who can stay at Dol-Mar Manor? Referrals can be received from the Emergency Shelter, Family Violence Outreach Program or other community agencies in special circumstances. How long can I stay at Dol-Mar Manor? You are welcome to stay at Dol-Mar Manor for up to a year. There are some circumstances that may change this timeline based on your needs. Do I have to pay rent? Damage deposit and monthly rent amounts are based on a combination of factors such as family size and funding amounts received for core shelter allowance. What are the benefits of a stay at Dol-Mar Manor? Women are given the opportunity to grow personally in a safe, supportive environment and learn skills needed to maintain an independent life with healthy relationships.
  • How can I become a volunteer?
    A. Please head to our Volunteer Page for all the info! You must be 15 years of age or older to volunteer with the Spark Foundation of Lloydminster.
  • What sort of things can I do as a volunteer?
    There are many opportunities to volunteer with us. Most of our volunteers provide help at the ‘For the Interval’ Store, others help in different areas of our organization including the Lloydminster Community Youth Centre. For more information about how you can volunteer with us, please visit our Volunteer Page.
  • What is a Social Enterprise?
    For The Interval’ Store is a social enterprise. A social enterprise is a business under the umbrella of a not-for-profit organization with primarily social objectives and an overall mission to serve the public good. In addition to providing social programs and/or support services, a social enterprise operates as a revenue generating business that reinvests its earned income into realizing the social mission of the organization. Most social enterprises are considered “double-bottom-line” businesses – that is, a business designed to earn a profit and fulfill a social mission. There are some social enterprises that work from a “triple-bottom-line” – incorporating environmental impacts and sustainability into their overall mandate. The revenue generated from social enterprise operations provide an organization the opportunity to increase its sustainability by becoming more self-sufficient – thereby ensuring its ability to meet its social mission. We are considered a “triple-bottom-line” social enterprise, as we divert items from the landfill, earn a profit, AND work towards the fulfillment of our organizational mandate from day to day.
  • Volunteering at the social enterprise
    What happens after I submit my online application? First, you will receive an autoreply immediately thanking you for your application. Second, you will receive a personalized email shortly after with instructions as to how to sign up for an orientation + training shift that works for your schedule. What if I can’t apply online? Can I call someone or drop in somewhere for help? Absolutely! You can call: 780.808.5282 ext. 2012 Can I choose more than one opportunity or change my mind about what I would like to do once I’ve started? Yes, you can, and we encourage you to try out as much as you’d like! Our orientation is designed to give you an introduction to our entire operation and ALL the opportunities that are available to you. Is there a minimum number of hours per week or month I am expected to volunteer? Not necessarily, but once you start you will want to come back again and again! In all seriousness though, we really appreciate our volunteers coming as regularly as they can as our operations change pretty frequently. Here’s a couple of examples…how we hang our clothes changes from summer to winter, and how our seasonal items are handled is different as well. Is there a minimum timeframe for being a volunteer with us? Yes, ideally, we ask volunteers for a minimum commitment of 6 months. If this doesn’t fit with your availability, just let us know and we’ll look at other options with you. How does volunteer scheduling work? Our volunteers are in control of their own schedules. Our available shifts are posted on Better Impact (our online database where you application is) and volunteers can sign up for whichever shifts they would like. There is also an app for Better Impact which makes it even easier if you are on the go! What are the benefits to me? You can feel great about giving back to a community organization that supports some of our most vulnerable citizens. But also, you will gain skills and experience, meet new friends, and have a chance to socialize with others while having fun volunteering. Do I get to pick out good stuff from the back before it’s put out for sale to the public? No, this is not allowed at the “For the Interval”. We respect our donors’ wishes and ensure all donated items get to where they are intended. What if I need my volunteer hours for something like a scholarship application? Excellent! This is super easy, as our volunteers are required to log their hours in our Better Impact volunteer database. Once your hours are logged, it’s very simple to just run a report of your total hours volunteered. What does the training and orientation shift include? It includes an introduction and tour of the physical space, meet any volunteers and staff that are there that day, an overview of our organizational mission, vision and values, a review of our Volunteer Code of Conduct and Confidentiality and then we move right into our departments and the procedures associated with them. Do you have snacks for volunteers while on shift? Yes, we do!
  • The Beginning of Our Store
    ‘For The Interval’ Store was started in November 1991 because of overwhelming support in the way of community donations that were arriving at Lloydminster Interval Home. The idea of the “store” was initially conceived and pursued by five dedicated shelter volunteers. After almost 30 successful years, this fundraising enterprise has evolved to include a current location of approximately 2600 square feet. The success of this venture can be attributed to the ongoing commitment and dedication of our volunteers, combined with the ongoing generosity and support of our community. ‘For The Interval’ Store is truly an amazing and inspiring place to be. Among gently used toys, books, furniture, household items, jewelry, bedding, antiques, and collectibles, you will find incredibly kind women and men committed to making a difference in the lives of families affected by family violence.
  • What are the store shopping hours?
    Shop with us Monday – Saturday 10 am – 5 pm. Cash, credit card, and debit accepted. All proceeds benefit women, children, youth and community members experiencing family violence or other life crisis.
  • When and what can I donate?
    Donations are accepted at the back of the building Monday, Friday and Saturday from 10am – 3pm. We gladly accept clothing, household items – kitchen items, bedding, draperies, decor, small appliances, books, giftware, and so much more! Unfortunately, we can’t accept large appliances, cribs, helmets and car seats due to regulations.
  • What happens to my donations?
    Our first priority with donated items is to offer them to our clients and to use within our programs. Secondly, we support individuals in our community with essential household items and clothing. Our third priority for donated items is to sell them in our store for profit. It’s through these profits that we can fund many of our community services and initiatives that do not have government funding. If donations cannot be used in any of the ways outlined above, we have relationships with third party organizations that can use our unusable items in recycling programs or other repurposing initiatives.
  • Will my donation make a difference?
    Yes! Every donation that is made to the ‘For the Interval’ Store is first sorted to be shared with women, children and youth to meet the needs they have when they are being supported through our programs. Because of the donations made to the store we can put together outfits, toys, apartment start up kits, and so much more to meet the needs of the people we support. This goes such a long way to make their new beginning a little easier. The income from the store supports the programs and support services provided through all areas of the organization. All in kind donations directly benefit the people we support in various ways all year long. Monetary donations help to supplement the costs of running the organization throughout the year. Your donations better the lives of those we support every day. Today your donation made a difference, thank you!
  • Volunteering at the Youth Centre
    What happens after I submit my online application? First, you will receive an autoreply immediately thanking you for your application. Second, you will receive a personalized email to set up a phone conversation to begin the process. Is there an age requirement for volunteering at LCYC? Volunteers working with youth must be at least 18 years old. What steps are required to become a volunteer? Volunteers at LCYC will have an interview, a reference check and will provide a Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Check. Do I need to have a Criminal Record Check? Volunteers that work directly with youth need to provide a Criminal Record Check with vulnerable sector check. We can provide documentation to waive the cost of getting this check after completing the interview. I have a criminal record. Does that mean I can’t volunteer? Not necessarily. LIHS must be aware of potential risks to youth. Please ask if you have a specific question. What is the time commitment? It’s pretty flexible but shifts are predetermined – shifts are 3 hours, and we prefer a regular weekly or monthly schedule when possible. Is there a minimum timeframe for being a volunteer with us? Yes, ideally, we ask volunteers for a minimum commitment of 6 months. If this doesn’t fit with your availability, just let us know and we’ll look at other options with you. I want to volunteer during the day. Do you have any opportunities? Not right now. Youth are in school during the day, so the opportunities we can offer then are limited. How does volunteer scheduling work? Our volunteers are in control of their own schedules. Our available shifts are posted on Better Impact (our online database where you application is) and volunteers can sign up for whichever shifts they would like. There is also an app for Better Impact which makes it even easier if you are on the go! What are the benefits to me? You can feel great about making a difference in the lives of youth in your community. You will gain skills and experience, meet new people, and have a chance to work as part of a team. You’ll get to enjoy eating dinner with the youth during our hot meal service!  Most importantly, it’s pretty fun working with the youth! What if I need my volunteer hours for something like a scholarship application? Excellent! This is super easy, as our volunteers are required to log their hours in our Better Impact volunteer database. Once your hours are logged, it’s very simple to just run a report of your total hours volunteered. What if I want to complete a practicum at LCYC? LCYC supports practicum students completing programs such as Child and Youth Care, Social Support Worker, etc. Please email volunteer@lloydintervalhome.com for more information.
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