The Salvation Army has been unable to open its traditional cold-weather overnight warming shelter for the homeless, due to a lack of volunteers to operate the facility at 893 Lander Ave.
“Our regular volunteer has fallen ill and we have no one to run it. We need three people to operate it,” explained Maj. Debi Shrum of the Turlock Salvation Army.
The shelter is in need of volunteers to work the 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. shift and volunteers to work the 2:45 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. shift. Volunteers will supervise up to 20 visitors at a time.
Shrum says the warming shelter is used during the coldest part of the year when overnight temperatures regularly fall into the 20s and 30s.
“A lot of (homeless) people can’t handle four walls and they just need a place to keep warm,” she said. “Sometimes people will get turned away from other shelters so they come here.”
Visitors to the shelter are allowed to sleep and are typically supplied with hot drinks like coffee or apple cider, as well as cup-a-soup and pastries.
To volunteer, call The Salvation Army of Turlock at 209-667-6091.
