8325 Ventnor Road
Lake Shore, Maryland 21122
410-255-3677
The Winter Relief Effort is an emergency shelter for homeless men and women during the winter months. Approximately 60 churches of various denominations across Anne Arundel County participate in this program every year.
We have participated in this effort annually since 2007 providing a shelter for up to 35 homeless men and women who visit our church each evening from about 5:15pm until 7:30am the following day. The shelter is set up in The Gathering Place Banquet Hall for that one week.
Volunteers are always needed and will have opportunities in the following ministry areas: sharing Christian fellowship by talking and visiting with our guests; leading a Bible Study; preparing, cooking & serving meals; providing transportation as drivers; serving as night hosts/monitors; providing entertainment & education as might be required; running errands; doing laundry; daily clean-up of the kitchen and hall; and setting up and breaking down the shelter at the beginning and end of the week. In all of these ministry areas we are personally demonstrating Christ's' love to the homeless and our love of Christ.
We are responsible for providing the men & women a daily hot breakfast, a bag lunch, hot dinners, snacks, showers, and a safe, warm place in a loving, Christ-centered environment to spend the cold winter nights.
The men and women are picked up at the Intake Center in Glen Burnie which screens the men and women for any behavior issues. The Intake Center also may administer alcohol and/or drug tests in addition to police background checks before allowing them into the Winter Relief Shelter Program.
We transport our guests from the Glen Burnie Intake Center to The Gathering Place each day, arriving at the church between 5:15pm and 6:00pm. Dinner is served between 6:00pm and 6:15pm. After dinner, it's free time until 10:00pm. Free time includes the above-mentioned ministries, plus activities such as watching DVDs/videos; and playing checkers, chess, cards, and other games.
Lights are out at 10:00pm. Breakfast is served at 6:30am, and we then transport our guests back to the Intake Center in Glen Burnie between 7:00am and 7:30am.
This week-long program requires a significant number of volunteers from our parish. Please pray and consider how God could use you and your talents in this special opportunity to love your Lord by loving your neighbor.
You can view our schedule for January 1- January 9, 2023 and sign up for volunteer spots at https://signup.com/go/rdZEbcA or by contacting Lisa Wolfe at [email protected] or 410 530 5664.
"Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."--Matthew 25:40