Out of the Cold Presentation

Thank you to the congregations of The Church of Saint Andrew and Saint David & Centenary Queen Square United Church for allowing me to share a bit about Out of the Cold this morning.

 

 

 

 

Good morning.  My name is Tony Dickinson.  I am here this morning to talk a bit about the Out of the Cold men’s shelter.  Thank you for allowing me to share with you for a few minutes.  I actually owe you a second thanks as well.  Out of the Cold was allowed to share a few weeks ago at the meeting this congregation held with area social groups.

 

Out of the Cold is a shelter for homeless men in Uptown Saint John.  It is located in Grace Presbyterian Church on the corner Hazen Street and Coburg Street.  This is the church across the street from St. Joseph’s Hospital.  We will be open for seven days per week from January 1 until March 31.  

 

Our goal is simple:  Make sure that no homeless man has to sleep outdoors during the cold and wet and snowy Saint John winter.  

 

Last year was the third winter for Out of the Cold and it was also our busiest.  Sixty-seven different men used the shelter at least once.  Our nightly average was a little over ten men.  We expect to have similar numbers this winter.  Our capacity is for 15, but things get a bit tight with ten or eleven men all sleeping in the same room.

 

Christians play a big part in Out of the Cold.  The shelter is located in a church and some, but not all, of our volunteers are regular church goers.  Christians from a number of denominations volunteer.

 

I’m grateful for every volunteer that comes through the door to help at Out of the Cold and I happily work beside anyone – regardless of what they do or do not believe – who wants to help people who are homeless.

 

Right now, I am standing and sharing in a Church so I want to take the chance to tell you a bit about why my faith is key to my involvement at Out of the Cold.

 

As Christians, we are Kingdom people.  I am happy to see that the creed surrounds the sanctuary, because it reminds us that we expect Jesus’ return.  We pray for God’s will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.  We are even told what this will look like in Revelation Chapter 21:

 

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

 

In The New Heaven and The New Earth that we anticipate, there will be no pain or misery.  I want today to resemble the coming world as much as possible.  One way to do this is to help ensure that no homeless man has to sleep outside on a cold, wet, and snowy Saint John night.  

 

The things that go on at St. Andrew St. David are amazing.  I’ve already mentioned the community forum you hosted last month.  It was truly great to have this dialogue.  Your ongoing efforts surrounding The Abby and the meals you provide in this community are also to be commended.  Thank you for working to show Saint John what the Kingdom of God is like.

 

I know that this is already a busy congregation and that you are already serving who Jesus would call “the least of these.”  Out of the Cold needs some help and that is why I am here, but please do not hear what I am saying as an attempt to push you into helping at the shelter or to make you feel guilty.  Instead, I want to tell you about a particular service in Saint John and what the needs at it are.  

 

If you hear me say something and you think, “Hey, I can do that,” please let me know.  If you hear me say something and think, “Hey, I’m glad somebody is doing that, but I’m already swamped,” that is OK too.  It is impossible for someone to be involved with everything.

 

There are a few particular needs, starting with volunteers to cover a shift.  We have two shifts every night, seven nights a week, for three months.  This takes a lot of volunteers.  We have a broad range of volunteers.  Women and men, working age people and retirees, religious people and not religious people volunteer.  We make sure that our volunteers are safe and we will work around your schedule.

 

There are other ways to help.  

 

We need warm clothes for men to wear.  Primarily, this means socks.  The guys that stay at the shelter often times spend all day walking.  This sometimes means walking through slush and snow and the guys regularly ask for a pair of warm, dry socks.  We also use a lot of toques, gloves, and scarves.

 

We also need food.  For the last couple of years we provided meals for the men when they arrive.  Thanks to meals like those provided here, there is no longer need for a full meal at the shelter.  It is a need you are already helping to meet.  We still want to have food on hand, but lighter fare.  We would like to provide the guys with sandwiches, fruit, raw veggies with dip, and tea.  In particular, the guys drink a lot of juice, coffee, and milk.

 

Another need is Tim Horton’s gift cards.  In the morning, we close the shelter at 7:30.  That leaves the guys with a couple of hours before other places open.  On particularly cold days, or snowy days, or rainy days, a Tim’s gift card means somewhere warm to go during this gap.  The gift cards we give out are for $5.00.

 

I’m going to stick around after the service if anyone has any questions or wants more information.  I’d be happy to chat for a bit.  You can also email me at the address in the bulletin.

 

Again, thank you.