The Out of the Cold program has been busy this season, but it could use some helpers and donations.
Bud Forbes, head of the board that runs the program at St. Paul’s Anglican Church on Wednesday nights, said with no government funding, and relying mostly on volunteers, the winter-shelter program can always use more resources.
Laundry expenses, for example, exceed $2,000 to provide a bed for up to 25 people every Wednesday.
To volunteer or donate, contact program co-ordinator Sasha 250-320-2005 or volunteer co-ordinator Christine 250 318 0236.
Add in hot meals and toiletries and the cost to run the program is about $14,000. Right now, Forbes said, organizers have about $8,000.
Shift captains receive an honorarium, but are trained to handle any unexpected situations that might arise.
Captains work shifts from 6 p.m. to midnight, from midnight to 6:30 a.m. and from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., with the latter shift the one supervising cleanup.
With the rooms the program takes over on Wednesdays needed for other groups the next day, they need to be cleaned and everyone must be out by 8:30 a.m.
Forbes said the program served Christmas dinner to 49 people last week, with 23 sleeping overnight.
The program was once part of the government’s extreme-weather shelter program.
This year, BC Housing opted to not fund it, giving the money to the Kamloops branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association to provide shelter beds at its Emerald Centre.
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