We started the season early this year! Cold temperatures had us open 7 days in November. We have already been open 10 days during the month of December and will now be open every night until March 15th. The season always starts out with just a few people who need shelter. Maybe ones that have already spent seasons with us or new people that are experiencing homelessness for the first time. As the weather turns colder and nights grow longer our numbers increase at a steady rate. Our guests get referred to us from many different avenues; police officers, probation officers, detoxes, state service centers, social service centers, Homeless Alliance DE, 211, churches, civic organizations, friends, and even family members. Our hotline answers calls 24/7, hoping that even if someone calls in the middle of the night they will be able to find their way into one of our shelters for a good night’s sleep. It is a traumatic experience for anyone that finds themselves without a home. We want to keep them safe from the cold, wind, snow, crime, and any predator waiting to find a vulnerable person to take advantage of for the night. Our guests are from a wide variety of backgrounds and are in all walks of life. Each one is a unique individual that has something to offer society. We hope that when they find themselves in one of our sanctuaries that they can find not only warmth and dinner but peace and love.
Remember that we are an all volunteer run and donation based ministry. We rely on the community to bring in dinner each night. We depend on individuals giving up their time to come in and help with intake, transportation, and staying overnight to ensure everyone’s safety. You could make such a huge difference in someone’s life. Your dinner can feed the body, your donation of gloves can keep the hands warm, your donation of soaps can cleanse the body and your presence with words of encouragement could be a catalyst for someone to take a positive step in their life. Please help us make a transformational difference in our guests’ lives.
Look around on our website to read over the volunteer spots and their descriptions. We have an online volunteer form for you to fill out and it will be emailed to us directly. There is also a link to our volunteer calendar that makes it super simple to pick any day that works for you. Once you sign up, you will also get helpful email reminders so no one forgets the days that they picked. Thank you for taking the time to read this! If you have any questions, please email us at codepurplesussexcounty@gmail.com.
Thank you so much to all the ones who already volunteer and help us throughout the season. Blessings!
P.S. Look for more updates throughout the season. You can find us on FB at Code Purple Sussex County.
