On those bitter cold nights when the temperatures are no longer safe for staying outdoors, The Anchor and St. Andrew’s Covenant Presbyterian Church on Market Street partnered this year to open an overnight Emergency Shelter to anyone needing to come in from the cold for several days. Volunteers brought a generous banquet to feed our guests in the Fellowship Hall of St. Andrew’s. On average, 40 people were housed and fed each night.
The Emergency Shelter not only provides the basic need of housing during inclement weather for those who without options, as the city does not offer any cold weather shelters, but also creates a space to involve the community response, who may not otherwise be involved in such a mission. We are able to coordinate with restaurants who want to donate food, volunteers to run the shelter, and the kind souls who donate money or supplies – such as sleeping bags guests can take with them – as well as items for the night, like plates, silverware, cups, and blankets. We were successful because of the contributions from the community. In the days to come, we hope to partner with other organizations to ensure everyone has a warm, safe place to go to when the weather turns bad.