This coming winter, anyone in need of a place to stay can look forward to a warm welcome, thanks to the efforts of the Estevan chapter of the Salvation Army and St. Paul’s United Church. Both organizations have combined efforts to run the Warm Welcome Shelter, which offers a safe place to sleep and a warm meal, as the barometer begins to plunge.
“What we do is provide a shelter for the night, a couple of meals, and a lunch if they want to take it with them in the morning,” said shelter board member Rory Flemming.
This year, Warm Welcome Shelter will run from Nov. 15 to April 15, providing shelter during the coldest months of the year. Flemming noted that guests are usually in by 8 p.m. and on their way by around
8 a.m.
“We went from four days a week and four nights at the United Church to seven nights a week,” said Flemming. “Now it runs Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at the Salvation Army church, and the remainder of the week at the United Church. The door opens at eight o’clock at night. Those that need accommodations only need to come in, and they’re fed a good meal and provided a bed.”
The shelter entails a sleeping area for guests, with mattresses, cots and blankets provided and set up for them. Toiletries, socks, and anything else that might be needed are also supplied. Flemming said that the shelter also offers guests a coupon for every stay, which can be redeemed for a shower at the Leisure Centre.
The shelter usually accommodates about four to six people every night, and is run by a number of volunteers. Last winter, the shelter was open for a total of 136 nights, and a total of 18 different guests using it during the time it was open. There were 85 different volunteers taking care of guests and running the shelter throughout that time.
Major Wilfred Harbin, with the Estevan Salvation Army, said he expects an uptick in the number of people utilizing the shelter this winter, due to the unfavourable economic climate present in the area.
Harbin said, “It’s definitely relating to the economic situation. Last year, the economics looked good and the picture looked good. This year, we’re in a downward spiral. That’s going to put a lot of people at a disadvantage.
“That being said, there will be more vacancies this year, now that we and St. Paul’s United Church are going to have the shelters open for the whole week. The impact that will have on the shelter is yet to be seen.”
Flemming noted that making guests comfortable, both physically and emotionally, during their stay is a top priority. As such, the privacy of guests at the shelter is wholly respected, and volunteers refrain from asking any intrusive questions about where
guests are from, or what brings them to a shelter. All the same, volunteers often really get to know guests — particularly the ones who stay at the shelter frequently.
“We don’t pry into anyone’s lives when they’re using the shelter. We’re not out to embarrass them in any way, shape or form. We sit down with them and have a meal with them,” said Flemming. “Lots of the time, we play crib or other games with them. They usually retire around 10 p.m., and we just go outside the auditorium. I speak from the United Church perspective, because usually, that’s where I volunteer.”
Harbin noted there are no significant fundraisers planned yet, for this year, relating to the shelter. That being said, the Salvation Army and United Church are always accepting donations to help with the shelter. Items that the organizations are particularly eager to see donated are mattresses, blankets, general toiletries that include razors, and hygienic products, clothes and towels.
“We got a lot of different things. Sometimes even jackets are donated,” said Flemming. “I remember there were a couple of nice winter coats that came in, and a couple of the fellas tried them on, and they fit quite well. It’s all appreciated.”
Harbin added that if anyone wants to donate, they can bring whatever it is they wish to contribute to the Salvation Army building, and have it earmarked to go towards the shelter.
“We can give a tax receipt for donations, and the money is passed over to the treasurer,” said Harbin. “That’s how we’re working things on our end, this year. If anyone is looking to donate, we’ll make sure it goes in the right direction.”
Flemming extended a broad welcome to anyone who is considering using the shelter, not to hesitate. He said a lot of people who may need a place to stay often don’t use the shelter, despite being welcome.
“We hear, and I know of, some people who are still out there, and for various reasons, they don’t use the shelter,” said Flemming. “Some people were sleeping in their vehicles, for example. But there were some nights last year, when it was too cold, so they used the shelter. Everyone over 18 (years old) is more than welcome to come and use the shelter. If the need is there, by all means.”
