Cold weather keeps overnight shelter busy
By Janet Kanters Times Editor
The Strathmore Overnight Shelter opened Sept. 11, 2018, and during this frigid winter, it’s been a welcome refuge.
According to Elizabeth Karp, executive director with the Strathmore Overnight Shelter (SOS), the shelter has seen anywhere from one to seven people stay overnight, depending on circumstances.
“A lot of our homeless people are outside most of the time, obviously, finding shelter by ATM machines or wherever they can find warmth,” she said. “We’re open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., and we send them off with a lunch. If they’re hungry when they come in, we feed them.”
The SOS can accommodate 10 adults (men and women; they cannot take in children), and the RCMP and hospital are key in helping the homeless find their way to the shelter.
Volunteers are integral to keeping the shelter running, and Karp said about 15 volunteers are currently helping out. They do laundry, clean, do intake and stay during all-night shifts, and help with myriad other tasks.
“The volunteers are fantastic,” she noted. “We couldn’t run the shelter without them. Right now, our greatest need is more volunteers for intake.”
The shelter is always in need of funding as well. To that end, the shelter is hosting the SOS Cold Night Walk on Saturday, March 9. Individuals interested in participating are asked to raise pledges/donations, and all funds raised go directly to the shelter, to help pay for utility bills, maintenance and upkeep, and some foods and laundry supplies.
“We’re doing (the walk) to raise funds for the shelter; and also so that people can gain an understanding of what it’s like to be out there at nights when it’s really cold,” said Karp. “We’re going to do (the walk) no matter the weather because, well, that’s the point.”
The SOS continues to work with other programs in Strathmore as well as in the surrounding communities and Wheatland County, to help its clients access some of the help they need, whether it’s housing or employment or funding or counselling.
“It’s working together with the entire community is really what it is,” said Karp.
The shelter is based in the Harvest Healing Centre Church. Karp said the mandate of the church is based on James 1:27, “to look after orphans and widows – and the homeless. So that’s really the heart of the whole matter.”
Those interested in participating in the SOS Cold Night Walk fundraiser on March 9 can obtain a registration form and pledge sheets by calling 403-619-9279, or visiting strathmoreovernightshelter.com/walk-2019.
“We’ll start the walk at the shelter and finish it off at the shelter,” said Karp. “Registration is at 4 p.m. and the walk will start at 5 p.m. There will be stew, hot chocolate and refreshments.”