The Great Recession is over, or so it has been officially decreed. However, reality tells us that the need for emergency food and shelter continues to grow. This year, as we serve at the Winter Homeless Shelter hosted by Glenkirk Presbyterian Church, we will be asked to prepare meals for 250 people. As part of the East San Gabriel Valley Coalition for the Homeless, Glenkirk Church will host the winter shelter for two weeks, beginning January 3. At the end of two weeks, the shelter will move to another church. To assist those in need, each evening from December through March, buses go to publicized bus stops, pick up those seeking shelter, and deliver them to the hosting church. People are then provided with warm shelter for the night, a hot dinner, showers, clothing, toiletries, and breakfast and lunch for the next day. Grace Church has been assigned to work on Sunday, January 15, 2012. In this ministry, we will provide food for three meals and volunteers to cook, serve, and clean up. Most importantly, it will be our privilege to simply spend some time with people who need to be seen as children of God.

 

There are a number of ways in which you can participate in this ministry:

 

1. Donate food or money for the three meals.

 

2. Volunteer your time between the hours of 4:30 and 9:00 p.m. by cooking, serving, cleaning, serving as shower monitors, and spending time with the men and women who come to the shelter.

3, Contribute clothing or toiletries. Needed items include:

• New motel travel shampoo, soaps, lotions, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and disposable razors.
• New socks and underwear (men’s boxers).
• Used – but in good condition – shirts, blouses, sweaters, pants, sweats, work shoes, tennis shoes, jackets,
• Umbrellas, slippers, warm pajamas, etc.
• Please do not donate dresses, high heels, swimwear, suits, or any used underwear.

4. All of the donated clothing and toiletries need to be brought to Grace Church no later than January 3, as we need to deliver the items to Glenkirk at the beginning of their two weeks of hosting the shelter.

 

Sign-up sheets for volunteering your time or donating food will be available beginning Sunday, December 11.

 

 

For more information on the great program, please see:

East San Gabriel Valley Winter Shelter Program