A Call for Volunteers for the Freeze Shelter
A Call for Volunteers for the Freeze Shelter: Keeping Children and Adults Warm in Freezing Weather
We are hoping for volunteers to help with our Freeze Shelter Ministry. For those unfamiliar with this ministry, here is some information and how you can help. Please sign up here if you are interested. We will be in touch about a date and time for a planning meeting.
Winter 2020-2021
During the winter of 2020-2021, the Decatur First United Methodist Church did not operate its freeze shelter due to the pandemic. Shelly Fine, who leads “A Home for Everyone in DeKalb: A Collaborative Initiative on Homelessness, asked Holy Trinity Parish to provide support during the pandemic.
Our parish supported the work of “A Home for Everyone in DeKalb” by agreeing to give $5000.00 for the provision of hotel rooms for families with children on nights that are 35 degrees and below. During the winter of 2021, the First Baptist Church of Decatur also provided $5000.00 for motel rooms.
Holy Trinity Parish paid for motel rooms for families with children from November 18 to February 2, 2021. During this period, there were 20 nights when the temperature was 35 degrees or below in Decatur.
11/18/2020 to 02/02/2021 | Nights below 35⁰ | Motel Rooms |
Adults Served | Children Served |
Total | 20 | 55 | 69 | 91 |
Our support meant that 91 CHILDREN and 69 adults were warm during freezing weather.
Winter 2021-2022
We have just learned that there will be no shelter in Decatur due to the pandemic. Holy Trinity Parish will again be providing motel assistance to families with children on nights when the temperature is 35 degrees or below.
We need volunteers to help with this ministry. Volunteers will sign up TO BE AVAILABLE for one or more days from November 1 to February 15, 2022. In the event of freezing weather, the scheduled volunteer(s) will:
- Meet with families who need housing during freezing weather from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm on-site at Sycamore House.If you work during the week, weekend days are available; and/or
- Assist with telephone calls to our designated motels to check availability of rooms.
For more information, contact Ellen Gallow, Dawn Diedrich, or Ellen Bishop.
Tags: Serve the Community