Entering its third year of operation, Estevan’s Warm Welcome homeless shelter program is again on a growth curve.
Expanding the program translates into a need for more volunteers and more donations to meet the new demands, said Lieut. Brian Bobolo of the Salvation Army, who share the shelter’s duties with St. Paul’s United Church and their minister Brenna Nickel.
The shelter will be offered to the cold and homeless guests every night of the week this winter, beginning on Nov. 16.
“We’re starting the program a little earlier and maybe extending it a little longer this coming spring, maybe until mid-April,” said Bobolo, the spokesman for the team of volunteers.
There is just one paid position within the program, an assigned captain who oversees the nightly operations at either the Salvation Army church or St. Paul’s Christian Education Centre, attached to the church. Warm Welcome guests will stay at the Salvation Army overnights on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays and at St. Paul’s Wednesdays through Saturdays. Those without housing or suitable accommodations for the night can check in around 8 p.m. and are expected to be out by 8 a.m. the following day to allow the two organizations to continue to conduct their regular business. An evening snack and morning breakfasts have become a part of the program’s offering, which the team of volunteers would like to see continue.
“We’re a bit behind on the donations and the volunteers for each shift,” said Bobolo, adding that volunteers receive training so they can offer continuity of care for guests.
“Last winter we’d average four or five guests each night, a few more when it got really cold. I expect it could be an average of five to seven this year because the word gets out and the homeless get to realize that there is something there to help them.”
The volunteers work in shifts with the first team working from 8 p.m. to midnight, while the second shift checks in at midnight and are available until 8 a.m. About four or five volunteers along with the captain make up the ideal team.
“It’s actually a fun experience, it’s more like creating a community family event, not just monitoring sleeping quarters,” said the Army officer.
There is a lot of visiting going on, some passive game playing and, of course, the evening snacks and breakfasts to share.
“We’ll have a budget of around $30,000 this winter. We were a bit under that last year and with it expanding by about 25 per cent, we can expect it to top that mark,” Bobolo explained.
On the donation side, both sites could use a few vinyl covered mattresses that make it easier to clean. Pillows and blankets are also welcomed as well as cash for necessary purchases. Cash donations are eligible for charitable receipts from the SA.
“The kitchens at both locations will be operating and we have a great group of local seniors who are doing the cooking.”
Bobolo said the Warm Welcome program was starting a little earlier this year because, “last year, if you remember, November was pretty cold, all the way through. This year it was felt there was a need to not get caught short again, so we’re starting in the middle of the month.
“We’re trying to be a good servant for the community. If we grow this service, we can serve one another. We also get to grow as individuals and learn a little about ourselves when we take care of our own,” Bobolo noted.
Several Estevan elementary schools are conducting bake sales to raise funds for the shelter and last year school kids made Christmas cards for the shelter guests, while other volunteer groups knitted some winter sweaters for the season.
“The community is showing us how they’re coming on board with this project. Ronza, at our office, keeps track of the volunteer schedule on our Facebook page and that shows the time slots that are vacant where we need some help. Just check us there, or give us a call at 306-634-2074 if you’re interested in volunteering some time and having some fun,” Bobolo said.
