The Salvation Army Responds to Bitter Cold with Compassionate Support

 

As frigid temperatures grip communities across Ontario, the Salvation Army is stepping up to provide warmth, shelter, and hope to those in need.

From Thunder Bay to Sudbury and Barrie to Ottawa, the Salvation Army is hard at work helping as many people as possible who are living in the cold.

Barbara Ridley, executive director of The Salvation Army Sudbury Cedar Place, says although the emergency shelter is operating at capacity, they ensure vital support is available to community members who show up looking for help.

“Throughout the day, staff distribute food such as granola bars and fruit, hot drinks, clothing, and blankets to anyone in need,” Barbara says.

Additionally, Cedar Place staff provide information about warming centres and overnight emergency shelters in the area and can even arrange transportation to help people get there safely. As Sudbury’s only 24-hour shelter, The Salvation Army is a critical lifeline during harsh winter weather.

To assist community members, warm sleeping bags, hats, mitts, boots, blankets, and winter clothing can be donated at Cedar Place, 261 Cedar Street.

Expanded Services

In Thunder Bay, The Salvation Army Journey to Life Centre also faces high demand from individuals experiencing homelessness during the frigid winters. The emergency shelter’s 20 beds, 20 overflow mats, and two overflow beds are always full, explains community engagement manager Gail Kromm.

“Our goal is to ensure everyone has a warm and safe place to stay,” Gail says. “Guests who stay with us don’t have to leave during the day, and we provide three meals and three snacks daily to ensure they are nourished and cared for.”

To accommodate the demand the Journey to Life Centre has transformed the dining room into a sleeping area to support as many vulnerable individuals as possible. In addition to the life-changing assistance provided at the Journey to Life Centre, The Salvation Army’s nightly soup van is another lifeline for those braving the cold.

Volunteers are distributing warm clothing, blankets, and sleeping bags, which have been in higher demand due to the cold temperatures. Donations of mitts, hats and warm socks, hoodies, long underwear, warm jackets and winter boots are being accepted at the Journey to Life Centre at 545 Cumberland Street North. Financial donations can be made in person, by phone by calling 807-345-6492, or online at www.journeytolifecentre.com.

With a hot meal, a warm bed, or just a kind word, The Salvation Army is stepping up to meet the needs of residents during the winter. The doors are open to maintain the mission of helping the most vulnerable in the community.

Bracing the Cold

The Salvation Army in Barrie operates a warming centre throughout the winter to keep people without shelter safe. Simcoe County mandates that these facilities be activated if temperatures drop below -10°C. However, The Salvation Army opens its facility even when the weather is milder.

“We are free to open the warming centre even if it doesn’t hit that threshold if we believe there will be inclement weather. And for us, that is most nights. I can’t imagine spending the night outside, even if it’s -5°C or 0°C,” explains Nathan Sykes, executive director at The Salvation Army in Barrie.

The facility is open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. and has eight mats for people to sleep on. However, more guests can access the space if they need to escape the cold. Inside, they are offered warm drinks and a safe place for conversation.

“It is about creating a welcoming atmosphere and helping people get more information about resources that they could use so that they don’t have to rely on this service. We try to connect them to more of our programs,” Nathan adds.

Donations of blankets, toques, gloves and pre-packaged food items can be dropped off at the Barrie Bayside Mission Centre at 16 Bayfield Street.

Active Outreach Teams

The recent frigid temperatures have kept The Salvation Army busy ensuring people experiencing homelessness stay safe and warm in Ottawa. Outreach and housing services teams work from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m., delivering warm clothing and sleeping bags to those in need. During cold weather alerts, the service expands to a full 24-hour schedule to ensure care is available.

Support teams are handing out gloves, hats, mitts, hand and feet warmers, jackets, boots, thermal clothing and snow pants to anyone sleeping outdoors. Rides to emergency shelters are also provided to help individuals find a safe place to stay out of the cold.

“The number of people who are sleeping outside in the winter has increased since the previous winter, which has increased the demand on the program, so we’re seeing more individuals who are accessing emergency shelter services,” says Mikyla Tacilauskas, manager of Outreach and Housing Services.

“We’re seeing upwards of 30 to 50 people a night who are experiencing homelessness in some capacity,” Mikyla says, adding that the preparation for this year’s winter response plan started back in October.

Donations of warm winter items can be dropped off at the Ottawa Booth Centre at 171 George Street in Ottawa.  Monetary donations made online at www.SalvationArmy.ca remain in your community to help purchase the most in-demand clothing or supplies.