Service & Ministries at Providence - Emergency Winter Shelter
EMERGENCY WINTER SHELTER |
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The Emergency Winter Shelter for men is a community collaboration of individuals, congregations, businesses, and organizations committed to providing safe, warm, overnight shelter during the coldest months of the year to homeless men who would otherwise be without shelter. Charlotte's faith community developed this mission after learning of the death from exposure of three homeless Charlotte men in 1981. The Shelter is open from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am daily, to provide dinner, a cot, and breakfast for each man. Initially, EWS operated from December 1 through March 31 until 2003, when the Shelter adopted a new schedule, to include the month of November. Charlotte Rescue Mission supervises the EWS staff and provides meals not provided by volunteers. In the 2004-2005 season, more than 1,000 volunteers helped to serve an average of 156 men per night. Important contributions are made by these organizations: Hope Haven, which does the laundry at minimal cost; The Carolinas Medical Center's Residency Program, which staffs a medical clinic two nights a week; Mecklenburg Ministries, which serves as the fiscal agent for EWS. Of the expenditures in excess of $377,000, congregations provided over half of the funding and individuals one-quarter, with the remaining costs covered by United Way, foundations, businesses, and civic groups. PUMC has supported EWS from the beginning. After twenty-four years of providing shelter in various locations, EWS has acquired a permanent site north of uptown Charlotte, with accessible bus transportation. This news is of special significance to PUMC members, for our Associate Pastor, Bill Jeffries, is Chairman of the EWS Steering Committee. We honor his effective leadership and his personal commitment to be the body of Christ by glorifying God and serving others.
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