Sisters shelter set to open with additional services

Among the ponderosas at 222 N. Trinity W., there is a beehive of activity in the building owned by the Oregon Network Ministries and rented by Sisters Cold Weather Shelter.

According to shelter coordinator Sharlene Weed, they have "successfully transitioned to operating the Wellhouse Market food pantry on Thursdays at 3 p.m." They have opened their "front room community space for anyone to use on Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m." The furniture for the community room was donated by Habitat for Humanity's ReStore. Work is also underway to set up necessary supplies being brought out of storage to equip a shelter space.

"We plan to be ready in January and will try to open if there is an extreme weather event before that," Weed told The Nugget.

Photo provided

Volunteers have prepared a new shelter that is ready to open during severe, cold conditions.

The building just became available this fall so time has been short to get prepared to open the shelter. Normally, they would have been planning all summer, but they have only been able to start mobilizing recently, in addition to taking over the food pantry.

"Like any new endeavor, the shelter has experienced growing pains. We are evolving to meet the needs of people living in difficult conditions in the Sisters community," said Weed, "by providing essential and lifesaving support to our most vulnerable neighbors."

The Emergency Shelter Declaration, which was only approved by City Council on November 20, has an attachment outlining weather conditions and temperatures that would trigger opening a shelter. Despite the conditions over the last several weeks, the shelter was unable to open because they are still getting set up, recruiting volunteers, doing background checks, and hiring paid overnight monitors. A shelter is much more than just a warm space. Because of everything involved in opening and running a shelter, they can't open one night, be closed the next two, and re-open on the fourth night, based on weather conditions.

"SCWS will monitor the weather and mobilize when there are at least three consecutive days of extreme weather forecasted," Weed explained.

"We are asking all community members interested in volunteering to attend an orientation and training on Tuesday, December 17, at 5:30 p.m.," said Weed.

The training will be held at the Trinity Way building.

Running the shelter takes many volunteer hands performing a wide range of tasks. If someone wants to be involved in any way with the shelter - monitoring, preparing/serving food, interacting with guests, setting up when the shelter is open, updating and monitoring social media, or fielding phone calls - call 541-588-2332 or show up on December 17 at 5:30 p.m.

Luis Blanchard, SCWS president, explained in a fundraising letter, "In the past year the SCWS has grown our forest outreach efforts to provide caring community connections through showers, laundry, food, clothing, and essential supplies. We have reached over 70 individuals in the past year, averaging 30 each month. The supportive relationships formed have often been the catalyst for someone taking the next step toward a better life."

Blanchard continued, "To prepare for growth, we recently completed a strategic planning process. The plan maps out our core services: forest outreach, community gathering space, food pantry, and emergency shelter. As we embrace these expanded services, we are also working to rebrand the organization. Stay tuned in the coming months for a new name that more accurately reflects our evolving mission."

Volunteer opportunities exist in all the different areas of service, as well as on the board of directors.

Weed concluded, "We are grateful for the outpouring of support, warm clothing, supplies, and monetary donations to help our operations."

Email [email protected] for information."