Parent's Night Out (PNO) is a Christmas event, serving families living in various homeless shelters in Riverside, CA. Volunteer drivers are paired with a homeless parent to go shop for Christmas gifts using donated $25 Target & Walmart giftcards. While the parents are out shopping, their kids enjoy Christmas parties and crafts. After shopping, the gifts are wrapped by the parents at Wrapping Stations. The purpose of this event is to 1) foster relationships between folks who wouldn't ordinarily meet, 2) serve together with Christ's love, no matter what church we attend, and 3) provide dignity to those experiencing homelessness. This training is mandatory for volunteer drivers who will interact with the parents. It was created in a quiz show format because it is just a funner way to learn content. This training was created by Today's Urban Renewal Network (TURN), a nonprofit founded in 2004, whose mission is to connect churches in loving our city. We are headquartered in Riverside, CA. http://www.turnnetwork.org

1. The Parent’s Night
Out
Quiz Show
A Self-Guided Mandatory Training Module
For Our Wonderful Volunteer Drivers

2. •
•
•
•
A night where parents experiencing homelessness are
driven to a local Target or Walmart by volunteer drivers
Created in response to parents who asked to pick out
their own children’s Christmas gifts
Local churches donate $25 Gift Cards, Volunteer Drivers
and Parties (for the children while parents shop) ,
Wrapping Stations
This event happens each Christmas Season at King’s
Hall, Amelia’s Light and the Path of Life Family Shelter

4. •
Our unity in service brings glory to God. Our city has
over 200 churches, working independently, doing
wonderful things. When we come together, we show
the world His body as He intended…serving together.

5. •
We give homeless parents dignity when they pick out gifts for
their kids.
•
Millions of toys are donated in toy drives over the holidays.
This is wonderful, but how many of us would want to pick out
the gifts for our own kids?
•
Being in a homeless shelter is tough enough, we want to say
“can I walk along with you” by serving.

6. •
Jesus’s greatest commandment is to love the LORD your God
with all your heart, mind, soul and strength; love your
neighbor as yourself. He emphasized relationships.
•
PNO provides a personal connection between a parent in a
homeless shelter and a member of a local church.
•
We get to know someone we wouldn’t otherwise have met.

7. Review: Why Parent’s Night Out?
People will see what a good Christian I am
Nothing else is good on TV tonight
God will love me better if I serve others
Models dignity, shows unity, facilitates relationship
Makes me feel good to rescue the needy

8. All people who live in a shelter are alike.

9. How does someone end up living in a
shelter?
Sudden illness causes job loss and homelessness
Family or friends unable to help out
Any of these reasons
Escaping an abusive relationship
Landlord decides to sell the house they rented

10. What are the most important character
traits for a volunteer driver?
We give our time to the LORD. Whatever happens, we
roll with it! A volunteer may show up to take a resident
shopping and they’re nowhere to be found or may
change their mind. This is the LORD’s time, even when it
doesn’t turn out like we’d planned.

11. How should I prepare for PNO?
1.
Cover the night in prayer – volunteers, kids,
residents
2.
Come with a flexible, helpful attitude
3.
Plan your route from the shelter to Target
and/or Walmart

12. I should help my parent stay on budget
while shopping.
1.
2.
3.
Be a Santa’s Helper and bring a calculator to help
the parent stay on budget.
Please don’t give extra money on top of their gift
card! The shelter director needs to keep things
fair between families.
They are free to add their OWN money to their
purchases.

13. What if I want to stay in touch with my new
friend?
1.
Let relationships happen organically! That is what this
night is about.
2.
Please don’t make promises of future contact if you’re
unable to follow through
3.
Let their Service Coach know you connected
4.
Respect Path of Life’s contact guidelines and sign a
consent form
5.
Keep Path of Life updated if you continue to walk life
with them

14. Let’s see what you remember. Review:
Why PNO?
Character traits for volunteers?
Let their service coach know
Pray, Attitude, Plan Route
How should I prepare?
Dignity, Unity, Relationship
Is it OK to give extra money?
Positive & Flexible
Best way to follow up?
False

15. Prepared by your friends at
Today’s Urban Renewal Network