Winter Shelter
Do not depend on the hope of results…
In the end, it is the reality of personal relationships
that saves everything.
Thomas Merton
“I truly felt a connection with this ministry…
I left Monday morning with an energized heart."
new Winter Shelter volunteer after volunteering for the first
time
Download the November 2011 newsletter
New!
Download the
current Overnight schedule
New!
Download the
current Breakfast schedule
  Winter Shelter volunteers David Unger and Scout Colmant spread a little Halloween cheer at the Shelter |
The St. James Winter Shelter provides overnight shelter and
breakfast for 10-14 homeless men, age 50 and older, 4 days a week
from October through April. The mission of the program is to
offer shelter to homeless men in an environment of dignity, respect,
love and safety. We also ask volunteers to provide a Ministry
of Presence, which is based on being there, not on doing.
Winter Shelter volunteers work in pairs to host the overnight
portion of the ministry or to cook breakfast in the morning once a
month.
Those who spend the night set up and clean up, hand out toiletries,
provide light hospitality and transportation to and from the
shelter, and listen with a caring ear. Those who provide breakfast
bring the food, make and serve the breakfast, and do the set up and
clean up for the meal. There is also time to sit with the men
and enjoy some conversation over coffee. Shelter volunteers
are men and women age 18 and older. To volunteer for either
position, contact
Suzanne Lee at 206-654-4640.
The St. James Winter Shelter came into being in 1991 in response to
a need presented by the Archdiocesan Housing Authority’s St. Martin
de Porres Shelter. St. Martin’s can sleep 212 men a night but
the need far outweighs the available space during the cold winter
months, hence the satellite shelter system was created. There
are now 8 local churches working with St. Martin’s to provide 34
beds a night during the winter months.
Click here to find out more or to donate to St. Martin de Porres
Shelter.
We are able to hand out small toiletries to our Winter Shelter
guests because of the generosity of many donors. Donations can
be made during all of the coffee hours in Cathedral Hall following
the 8am, 10am, and noon Masses. Simply look for the toiletries
donation box and deposit your donation there. We especially
wish for travel-size razors, shaving cream, toothbrushes,
toothpaste, hand lotion, and cough drops.
In need of shelter? Contact St. Martin de Porres Shelter at 206-
323-6341.