The Partners gathered at St. Andrew's Church to continue planning for proposed winter shelter. The meeting began with the Holy Eucharist and sharing of the collect for the Feast of St. Barnabas.
St. Peter's Vestry will consider housing a three-month overflow shelter for the Capital City Rescue Mission at its meeting on November 23. The Partners formulated a working plan to be presented to St. Peter's Vestry and circulated among partner parishes if the project is approved.
Goal: To provide up to 12 beds for clients of the Capital CIty Rescue Mission during the coming winter.
Date: Beginning January 2, 2010, seven nights per week from approximately 8:00 pm to 8:00 am for three months.
Resources from Partners:
- Mats and blankets at $52.00/set (to be ordered by the Mission)
- Breakfast for guests (beverage, hot cereal, pastries)
- Volunteers under supervision of Mission staff (1 male per night, or if female, accompanied by a male. Breakfast might be provided by a separate crew).
Volunteer Duties:
- Greet guests when they arrive from dinner at the Mission
- Set out mats and blankets for the night
- Assist guests with chatting, games, etc. before they retire
- Prepare and serve a simple breakfast for guests (coffee, hot cereal, etc.) at 7:00 am
- Clean up kitchen
- Clean and sanitize mats
City Mission:
- Provide a supervisor and assistance with problems
- Screen guests to be invited to the Partners' shelter
- Procure the bedding with funds from the Partners
Christine Wickman and Judy Burns agreed to coordinate volunteers; Martha Iannacone will receive and forward financial donations (checks made to Capital CIty Rescue Mission and mailed to Martha at: 31 Crestwood Lane, Delmar 12054). It is also possible that in-kind donations for the breakfast will be made.
Each parish will use its own mechanisms for recruiting volunteers and funds once notified that the project is approved. Systems should be in place by December 15.
In other business, several parishes have responded to the appeal for blankets for refugees. More work needs to be done in refining our communication process.
Upcoming events of interest to all the Partners are:
December 3 at 7:00 pm Ceremony of remembrance at St. Peter's Church
December 21 at 7:00 pm Memorial Service at First Lutheran Church for homeless lost n the past year.
The next gathering of the Partners will be on December 7 at 7:00 pm at St. Stephen's Church, Delmar. It is hoped to have a representative from St. John's, Troy, which has embarked on a similar sheltering project. The Rector and Vestry of St. Peter's will also be encouraged to attend.
Eloisa LeConte Walker, recording
Comments