Well, we made it through the latest version of snowmaggedon. It wasn’t as bad as the one in 2021, but don’t tell that to the men, women and children we encountered on the streets. Anytime the temps get below zero, it is dangerous.
Another difference this year was that we were already on the streets the week before, performing a count of the unsheltered homeless in our area. We do this every year on the last Thursday of January. Dozens of volunteers, shelter workers and police officers were out the Thursday before everything hit looking in abandoned structures, under bridges, in wooded camps and any other place we thought someone might take shelter.
I’m happy to report that we were able to convince some to come into a shelter and we even helped one couple in a pup tent call a relative to come get them. At Faith Refuge, our shelter for women and children, we had more than our share of dogs. We have a kennel out back, but it was too cold to leave them there, so we bit the bullet and allowed to stay inside. Not a perfect situation, but we made it work.
At the men’s shelter downtown, we were a warming station for anyone that needed to come in. Again, not exactly what we are designed for, but safety became the priority.
All of this was made possible because of this amazing community. We had plenty of food, blankets, and winter gear to go around. Volunteers braved the icy streets to come and help. And I have to give kudos to our incredible team. Some of them worked around the clock while others came to work with extra clothes in case they had to stay. That’s just what they do. They are motivated by hearts of compassion and love. They see a need and run toward it. Kind of like our community.
I guess what I’m saying is, we are all in this together. Thank you Wichita Falls for your generous support for us and our homeless neighbors.
