52.0 Purpose
OSSO maintains a limited supply of shirts, sweatshirts, aprons, uniforms, and other apparel at in-country sites and offices to support volunteers and directors who are actively serving on site.
These items exist to ensure volunteers are able to participate fully in service shifts, comply with orphanage-specific apparel requirements, and have appropriate backup clothing when needed. Because international transport and restocking of apparel is logistically complex and significantly more expensive, on-site inventory must be preserved for current program operations.
52.1 Use of on-site apparel
On-site apparel is reserved exclusively for current volunteers and directors while they are actively serving in-country.
Apparel may be used to:
• Replace clothing that becomes damaged, stained, or unusable during service
• Supplement insufficient personal clothing needed to complete service shifts
• Meet orphanage-specific apparel requirements
On-site apparel is an operational resource and is not intended as general merchandise.
52.2 Purchase of replacement apparel (when needed)
If a volunteer’s OSSO shirt or sweatshirt becomes damaged, stained, or otherwise unsuitable for service, the volunteer may purchase a replacement item while in-country only if the item is needed to continue performing their work. Only shirts and sweatshirts are able to be purchased; all other OSSO apparel must remain on-site.
• Payment must be completed using the official OSSO digital payment link. The link is HERE.
• All payments are processed digitally and go directly to OSSO.
• Once payment is confirmed, the Operations Coordinator and/or Director of Volunteer Experience may provide the replacement item to the volunteer.
This option exists solely to support active service needs and does not create an exception for general purchasing.
Record All Apparel Distributions
Every time shirts or sweatshirts are distributed—whether to a new volunteer, as a replacement, as an additional purchase, or for staff use—the person distributing them must record the transaction in the OSSO Inventory Action Form.
Select your location and Distributed, then enter the quantity beside each item given out. You can record several sizes and colors in one submission. Complete the form as soon as the clothing is distributed so that the inventory totals remain accurate.
52.3 Restrictions on purchase and removal
Departing volunteers and directors may not purchase, reserve, or remove apparel from in-country inventory unless the item was purchased by the volunteer for active service use in accordance with Section 52.2.
Apparel that was personally purchased by a volunteer for use during their service (due to damage, staining, or need) may be taken with the volunteer upon departure.
On-site apparel that has not been purchased must remain in-country and may not be taken, reserved, or transferred.
On-site apparel may not be used as a store, souvenir source, or bulk purchasing opportunity.
Volunteers who wish to purchase additional OSSO apparel after completing their service must do so through the OSSO office in the United States.
52.4 Orphanage-specific apparel requirements
OSSO works with a variety of orphanages, each of which has its own expectations and protocols regarding volunteer attire. As a result, apparel requirements vary by site and by orphanage.
Depending on the orphanage, volunteers may be required to:
• Wear OSSO-branded shirts for every service shift
• Wear appropriate personal clothing that meets orphanage guidelines
• Use aprons during specific activities or shifts
• Wear specific uniforms requested by the orphanage
These requirements are determined by the orphanage and are not interchangeable across orphanages or sites.
52.5 Training and oversight
Operations Coordinators and Directors of Volunteer Experience are responsible for:
• Training volunteers on site- and orphanage-specific apparel expectations
• Communicating when specific apparel is required for certain shifts or activities
• Confirming payment before distributing replacement apparel
• Protecting on-site inventory for active service needs
Volunteers are expected to follow all apparel protocols exactly as instructed.
52.6 Standards of example
Directors should:
• Model correct apparel use at all times
• Reinforce that in-country apparel is for service support only
• Ensure replacement purchases are need-based, not convenience-based