Program Guidelines

Welcome to Birch Community Services

We know joining Birch is a new experience for many, and taking that first step can feel exciting and a little vulnerable as you move toward stability and growth. Our program equips families to build financial stability through practical tools, supportive community, and accountability. During your time here, we hope you find relief, encouragement, growth, and most importantly, hope. We’re honored to walk alongside you as you work toward your goals.

Program Commitments

To join and stay active in the program, your household agrees to:

Have at least one adult (18+) employed or actively seeking work.
Participate in financial literacy: complete the re$tart course and meet with a financial counselor twice a year.
Pay monthly program dues.
Volunteer 2hrs/month to support the community.
Shop on a routine basis and follow warehouse safety and shopping guidelines.
Communicate with staff if your situation or availability changes.
Model Birch’s Cultural Values both on-site and in all written and verbal communication with participants and staff.

Language access: For safety and clarity in the warehouse, shoppers and volunteers must be able to communicate in English while onsite. Financial counseling and re$tart are also offered in Spanish, and we are continuing to expand language support over time.

Program Dues

Amount: $100 per month.

When to pay: Dues are paid for the upcoming month by the end of the current month.
Ways to pay: Cash, check, debit card (processing fee applies), or recurring ACH via the Participant Portal.
NSF: Returned or rejected payments incur a $15 fee and must be resolved before shopping in that month.

Please Note: Three missed payments may be grounds for removal from the program. If you have payment questions, email bcs@bcsi.org

How to Join

Apply online. Submit the brief pre-application on our website.

Intake conversation. When you reach the front of the queue, we will contact you to schedule a virtual intake appointment. This meeting reviews your goals, budget, and program fit.
Onboarding. If the program is a good fit, we will help you complete onboarding steps and schedule your first shop.

Intake appointment policy:

Cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours in advance.
If you miss an appointment, you may reschedule.
If you miss two intake appointments, you will need to re-apply.

Please Note:
Wait times can vary throughout the year. For the most current information, see the pre-application page.

Financial Literacy at Birch

Financial education is at the heart of Birch. Every participant begins with a one-on-one meeting with a financial counselor, followed by the re$tart course and ongoing check-ins designed to build lasting change.

1:1 counseling. You will meet with a financial counselor when you begin and at least twice a year. Sessions are offered on Zoom, with in-person options by request. You can reach out to your counselor any time you need extra support.

re$tart course. This is a live, four-session online course held in the evening and designed for Birch families. You’ll log in to join each class in real time as you learn core money skills and create your own Family Vision to guide decisions and goals. Couples are encouraged to attend together, and teens 13+ or other adults in the household are also welcome.

Specialty workshops. Throughout the year we offer classes on topics like time management, estate planning, retirement and investing, homebuying, and paying for college without debt.

What do we mean by “Family Vision”?

The Family Vision is a personalized roadmap for financial stability, built around what matters most to each family. Created together with Birch financial counselors, it helps align priorities, strengthen trust, and turn hope into a practical plan for lasting change.

Shopping

Hours. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, generally 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Check the Participant Portal for any updates, extended hours, or holiday closures.

Sign-ups.

Reserve a shopping slot in the Participant Portal.
- Slots open six days in advance.
One active shopping slot per household at a time.

Check-in and time limit.

Scan your QR code at arrival, wear your printed nametag, and plan to shop within 50 minutes to keep carts and parking available.

Shopping Schedule.

Weekly: One cart, observe posted limits.
Every-other-week (2x): Shop every other week and take double limits in one visit. You may bring a second trained helper (14+) to push a second cart, or use a “double-limits” sign with a single cart. Contact us if you want to switch to the 2x schedule.
Make-up shops: If you miss a week of shopping, your next visit may be your regular shop combined with a make-up shop. Please let the check-in desk know when you arrive.

In the Warehouse…

Stay with your cart and follow the arrows. Please do not loop back; new product is brought out all day.

Read and follow limit signs every visit; limits can change.
Take what your household can use for the week. Items from Birch are for participant households only and may not be sold or redistributed.
Children five and under must be in a front carrier, backpack, or strapped into the cart seat at all times.
For safety and training reasons, shoppers must be at least 16 to shop alone, or 14+ as a trained helper.

Volunteering

Volunteering keeps costs low and the community strong.

Commitment.

Minimum two consecutive hours per household each month.
Hours cannot be banked for future months.
Sign up in the Participant Portal under the name of the person who will serve.

Shift types.

Warehouse shifts: Sorting, stocking, and support tasks during open hours.
Closing shift (required once every 90 days): A regular two-hour shift that helps clean and close the warehouse at day’s end.
Garden shift: Hands-on tasks in the Birch garden. Strongly encouraged your first year.
Specialty shifts: Event or project-based needs. See details in the Portal.

Cancellations.

Please cancel in the Portal so another participant can take the spot.
Warehouse shifts: cancel at least 2 hours before start time.
Specialty shifts: cancel at least 24 hours before start time.
Having more than 4 outstanding volunteer hours will pause shopping until hours are at or under 4.

Safety basics.

Check in at Door #3 with your QR code and print a nametag.
Closed-toe shoes required. No pocket knives in the warehouse. Ask staff for a box cutter if needed.
Give equipment the right of way, make eye contact with operators, and never operate power equipment unless trained and authorized.
Avoid phone use or earbuds while in the warehouse (one earbud is acceptable).

Staying in Good Standing

Birch is a community built on trust, dignity, and accountability.

Staying active means:

Paying monthly dues on time.
Attending financial literacy activities.
Completing monthly volunteer commitments, including a closing shift each quarter.
Following shopping and safety guidelines.
Communicating with staff if challenges arise.

Please Note: If expectations are not being met, staff will reach out to help you get back on track.

Removal and Appeals

Birch reserves the right to remove a household from the program.

Reasons include, but are not limited to:

Repeated missed commitments, such as unpaid dues, unmet volunteering, or missed required classes or counseling.
Selling or redistributing items received from Birch.
Behavior inconsistent with Birch’s Cultural Values.
Extended inactivity without communication.

Please Note: If you wish to appeal a removal decision, email a written appeal to bcs@bcsi.org

Leaving the Program

We ask for a minimum commitment of six months, as this is typically how long it takes to begin seeing meaningful progress through the program. If you plan to leave, please email bcs@bcsi.org with your last day.

You may receive a brief exit questionnaire to help us improve the program.