By Jill Sperling

Numbers increasing at local shelter as weather turns colder

Feb 4, 2019 | 3:03 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s been a difficult 24 hours for Kayla Ebach.

“I just recently lost my home and then we kind of lost our vehicle last night, so RCMP brought us here,” she said. “We’re not from Kamloops, so they brought us here so we’d be out of the cold and a place for my dog to be, some food and a place to sleep.”

Ebach, her partner and their dog Diesel were welcomed in by the Mustard Seed New Life Community’s Winter Refuge program. 

The program provides 30 mats for people needing a warm place to sleep during the coldest months of the year. 

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“Our numbers were quite low in the beginning just because it was warm and in the last few days it has gone from about 15 people using our mats to averaging about 20 to 24,” said Outreach Supervisor Jeff Arlitt. “And, of course our day room is open 24 hours a day too, so a lot of people are just choosing to sit in the day room too. ” 

Thanks to Four Paws Food Bank, the program is also able to provide crates for those who have pets. 

“Very relieved,” Ebach said, “very very relieved. I was more worried about him than myself. Just like a kid, right?” 

With recent temperatures dipping to around -18 C, and wind chills around -30 C, everyone is simply trying to stay warm. 

The cold snap is expected to last a few more days, and shelters are in need of some community donations. 

“Because we are open 24-hours a day, coffee is definitely in high demand and winter gloves, that’s one thing that every year we seem to struggle with is being able to give out gloves to people,” Arlitt said.