Severe Weather Shelter wraps up season
Wooster’s Severe Weather Shelter was open 76 nights this past winter. The shelter is located at the Wooster Salvation Army and averaged 16.5 guests per night.
Wooster’s Severe Weather Shelter has wrapped up another season, having been open 76 nights during the coldest temperatures. This winter 111 different individuals were served with dinner and a safe, dry place to sleep, with the shelter averaging 16.5 guests per night.
The Severe Weather Shelter was the only place to turn in Wooster this past Dec. 23 and 24 for anyone without adequate heat as wind chills bottomed out at -35 F.
Many community members and organizations came together to support this project. Housed temporarily in the Wooster Salvation Army gymnasium, the project is supported by donations from several organizations but mostly through private, individual donations from citizens who give through the United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties. UWWH, with Executive Director Katie Koglman at the helm, acts as the fiscal agent by collecting and managing the funds, 1099 payroll administration for overnight staff, and expense reimbursements.
Krista Kidney, until recently chair of the Wayne County Housing Coalition and an original founder of the project, again provided management oversight along with Salvation Army Majs. Tom and Vicki Clark.
For the second year, Wooster Homelessness Task Force member Wyn Jones recruited and managed over 50 community and College of Wooster student volunteers to staff the center and wash shelter linens. Task force member Janet Burkhart recruited and managed at least 11 area churches and numerous individuals and organizations such as the Women’s Service Club of Wayne County who all provided homemade dinners each night for hungry shelter guests.
The story of this shelter’s success reaches throughout the community as various religious and civic groups were inspired to contribute either funds or goods to the cause.
Wooster’s American Association of University Women chose the Severe Weather Shelter as the focus of its annual Christmas holiday event by amassing and donating hundreds of personal toiletry items, warm socks, gloves, long underwear and more for the guests at the shelter.
College of Wooster student members of the Wooster Volunteer Network held a craft night and made dozens of warm, double-layer fleece blankets for shelter guests and others in the unsheltered population. Students also conducted a clothing drive for shelter guests in need.
Wooster’s Trinity United Church of Christ hosted the Alternative Gift Market in December with gifts sourced from communities worldwide. With entertainment by professional pianist Tom Lugoloobi, donations for the Severe Weather Shelter collected at that market brought in nearly $800.
A group of friends and neighbors went caroling door to door in Wooster at Christmas, gathering donations in excess of $1,000 as they sang through the neighborhoods.
Local artists contributed their talents to an art auction hosted by Wooster resident Traci Hanger-Hoffman at her home last year. Local artists displayed their creations in various forms and mediums donating 20% of the auction proceeds to Wooster’s Severe Weather Shelter.
Producing the largest donation from a city, religious or civic organization in 2023 was the congregation of Wooster’s Zion Lutheran Church, which raised over $3,000 in support of the warming shelter.
The warming shelter gives thanks to the Wooster Homelessness Task Force, the Wayne County Housing Coalition and other contributing agencies, and the many volunteers, overnight staff and groups who gave of their time and financial support to make this Severe Weather Shelter a reality again this past winter.
Fundraising never stops as costs go up every year. Donate to the community warming shelter by sending a check made out to United Way of Wayne/Holmes, 215 S. Walnut St., Wooster, OH 44691, and writing Severe Weather Shelter on the memo line. A donation of $200 will keep up to 26 unsheltered guests warm and fed for an entire night.
In addition to a check, citizens can visit www.uwwh.org and hit the Donate tab.
Wyn Jones is the volunteer coordinator for the Wooster Homelessness Task Force.