With winter weather upon us, volunteers at the Salvation Army's emergency weather shelter have been working to offer the city's needy some shelter from the storm.
"We've been open since last Wednesday. It's been quite cold," said Capt. Dave Macpherson. "We had between 15 and 20 people last night. That's about average for what we normally get. Earlier in the season, it was maybe 12 to 15, so it is a little more than it was in November and December when there was rain, but not cold."
The shelter opens any time the temperature drops below -2 C. Anyone who comes in gets a padded mat to sleep on with a pillow and blanket, a hot meal, a light breakfast and a voucher for lunch at a local restaurant. The Salvation Army works in partnership with the Lower Mainland Purpose Society.
Macpherson and volunteers try to keep clients warm after the shelter closes at 7 a.m. by sending them off with dry clothes and socks.
The shelter welcomes donations, which can be dropped off at the church's 325 Sixth St. location at the family services office behind the building.
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