This was the friendly scene as our "guest residents" dined and interacted at the recent Extreme-Weather Shelter in Georgetown. Just think: they don't usually get to commune around a common table. And, you were a part of that successful, compassionate outreach to our unhoused community!
We sheltered 20 guests with the help of 30 volunteers doing different functions on and off site and with 10 volunteers providing breakfast and dinner meals. Our guests were able to take showers along with receiving the many donations of hygiene products, blankets, socks, underwear, gloves, homemade knitted hats and various clothing. One volunteer donated 100 Ikea small blankets that our guests could easily carry in their backpacks, while another donated 175 hand and foot warmers. We also received anonymous donations totaling $140. What overwhelming support of our local community!
The "warming" shelter was able to operate as a result of a collaboration with San Gabriel Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Helping Hands of Georgetown, First United Methodists Church of Georgetown, and Wellspring United Methodist Church. We also knew that we could upon, if needed, our friends at First Presbyterian Church of Georgetown, who provides weekly access to a small pantry for an unsheltered population, along with other means of help.
We were interviewed by: KVUE, KXAN, FOX, Texas Public Radio, Wilco Sun newspaper, and the Austin Statesman newspaper. Let's hope such coverage will add validity to our outreach.
Thank you for your contribution of time and energy! This could not have happened with all of you.
What next?
A small group of volunteers are coalescing to talk about next steps, even possibly forming a Georgetown Coalition for the Unhoused.
-- Building a Beloved Community together,
Michelle Augustine, Extreme Weather Shelter Coordinator
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