The role of the advocate is critical to a successful client experience.
Our expectations are:
- Understand FreeStore mission and guidelines.
- Visit the client’s home so you can verify the need and better understand the logistics of moving furniture into their home.
- You and the client complete a client form. You must submit the interactive form using this website. A form template is available for you to use with a client to gather information, but the actual submission needs to come from this website.
- After submitting the interactive form, a copy of the completed form will be e-mailed to you and the scheduler. The e-mail will provide information about what’s next. If you don’t get this confirmation e-mail, your submission did not go through.
- Once the scheduler receives the completed client form, they will provide you, the advocate, with available dates for service.
- The advocate then consults with their client to choose the best date/time and provides that to the scheduler who puts the information into the FreeStore calendar.
- One to three days prior to the appointment, a FreeStore greeter contacts the client and advocate to confirm the appointment and review details.
- On the day of the appointment, plan to arrive at our warehouse 15 minutes early. A greeter will be there to assist with the selection of items and to collect any fees.
- Fees are to be paid by the agency and never by the client. View our fees here. We ask that payment be made at time of the client’s visit to the warehouse. If payment at time of appointment is not possible, other arrangements for payment must be made prior to the appointment.
- FreeStore volunteers will load and deliver the items to the curb using our trucks
- The client is responsible for having an unloading team ready at their residence, unless told otherwise by the greeter. We have instructed our drivers to bring the items back to the warehouse if there isn’t enough help to move items into the home.
- Unless other arrangements are made in advance, it is expected that you, the advocate, will accompany the client to the warehouse and to their home. You are responsible for making sure the client follows the guidelines, arrives on time, has delivery help and assists with the selection and delivery.
We expect follow-up with the clients for at least 6 months after delivery. This responsibility can be transferred to a social service agency.