By Dylana Milobar

Out of the Cold shelter gearing up for busy opening night

Nov 2, 2018 | 4:25 PM

KAMLOOPS —Winter shelter season kicks off Sunday night, as volunteers with Out of the Cold open their doors to the city’s homeless.

Program Coordinator Renee Stein says the downtown shelter usually hosts about 60 people for dinner, with 30 of those spending the night.

Those setting up for the program’s first night are expecting some extra patrons to come by this year.

“Our resources are changing, right. And there’s definitely a changeover taking place, where we’re seeing additional long-term housing, but we’re also seeing a decreased amount of emergency winter shelters,” Stein explains. “So I’m expecting that Sunday is going to be a pretty busy night for us.”

For less fortunate folks coming by, Stein says they offer food, clothing, and some basic health care.

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“We often have the street nurses come in, just to kind of take care of our guests that way.”

In terms of clothing, she says the wet weather means the shelter is in need of some specific items.

“We are really in need of pants right now, especially men’s jeans. We could really use some men’s shirts, like t-shirts, hoodies, those are always really good. And we always need socks,” Stein explains. “We are very much in need of boots right now. Preferably ones with no holes.”

The organization is run by donations and grants, and is volunteer-powered, Stein says, which they could use some help with.

“We have about 70 volunteers,” she says. “But one thing that we could use is any men and women who are interested in helping us clean up the shelter in the morning, and are wanting to be an encouragement for our guests for the rest of the day. 6:30 until 8:30 in the morning we are desperately in need for.”

This year, the group will be doing more than just getting a warm meal and fresh clothing to those in need.

“We have a new job mentorship program as part of our shelter,” Stein says, “so we have two currently homeless women that’ll be part of our shelter floor staff this year.”

That initiative is run by private donations, Stein explains. “So if anybody feels in their heart that that is something that they would like to do, is to give a hand up, instead of a hand out for Christmas, we would love to speak to you as well, to be able to encourage more of our homeless folks to be able to get employment.”

The shelter is located at 360 Nicola St., with access through the alley off of 4 Avenue, and will be open every Sunday and Wednesday evening starting Nov. 4, until the last week of March.