Winter Warming Shelter

During the winter months St. Louis faces a shortage of shelter housing. For the last two years AmeriCorps St. Louis has partnered with The Winter Outreach Group to open our doors as an emergency winter warming shelter when the temperature falls below 20 degrees. The shelter is facilitated by the Coordinated Service Team, which serves out of the Office of Mayor Slay in City Hall. However, we can’t run it without help from our volunteers!

To help raise both funds and community awareness, AmeriCorps St. Louis hosts an annual fundraiser, Share the Warmth, in early December. In 2010, more than 150 people attended the event, including Bill Siedhoff, Director of the Department of Human Services for the City of St. Louis and Mayor Francis Slay, who hung around to play rounds of washers. The event also offers opportunities to Adopt-a-Cot, a program that helps fund the shelter’s heating bills.

This past year we served over 1200 guests and over 3100 meals during 27 days of service. Absolutely none of this would be possible without generous donations from the community and the help of our Members and volunteers.

With wind chill temperatures well below zero, [City of St. Louis] Mayor [Francis] Slay ordered city departments to mobilize in an effort to provide additional resources to protect citizens throughout our community. Of principal concern were homeless people who are particularly vulnerable when extreme temperatures occur.

When it became clear during this cold snap that emergency shelter space for homeless people was inadequate, I came to you seeking the assistance of AmeriCorps St. Louis and you responded immediately as you always do. Within hours of my request you had in place accommodations for as many as 40 guests. Our efforts wee really about trying to save lives and I truly believe that AmeriCorps St. Louis played a large role in that effort.

Please convey my thanks to all those involved for the vital contributions they made in assisting us during this challenging period.

-Bill Siedhoff – Director of The City of St. Louis’ Department of Human Services

The Winter Warming Shelter needs volunteers to:

  • Prepare and set up the shelter
  • Welcome and register our guests
  • Donate and prepare meals for our guests
  • Serve evening meals for approximately 50 guests
  • After dinner clean-up
  • Spend time socializing with guests
  • Volunteer to spend night as a host
  • Sort and maintain donations

We are also looking for the following donated items:

  • Meals for our guests, either served hot, or casseroles that can be frozen and used as needed
  • Non-perishable breakfast food items, including coffee, sugar, non-dairy creamer, oatmeal, cereal, granola bars, lemonade or orangeade mix, etc.
  • New or gently used and clean winter apparel, including coats, gloves, hats and boots
  • Warm, washable blankets
  • New men’s and women’s socks and underwear
  • Personal toiletries
  • Cleaning supplies, including disinfectant, large garbage bags and paper products

If you are interested in helping with our Winter Warming Shelter efforts, please call the AmeriCorps office at 314.772.9002 or the Coordinated Service Team at 314.622.4093 or email CST at cst@americorps-stl.org.