Two new Carbon County shelters are keeping busy helping those who need a place to sleep, a hot meal and a respite from the cold.

The new Lehighton Cold Weather Station has been operating since December and has been giving help to people most in need of care.

The station is housed in the former Concern building, located at 560 Country Club Road, just off Route 443, west of Lehighton. The use of the facility was offered by Joseph and Debra Kay Bennett.

The shelter had been operating in the Ebenezer Methodist Church in Lehighton last year. However due to zoning regulations, it was no longer able to use that facility. After some searching for a new place, the Bennetts offered the use of the Concern building.

The shelter is available to men and women over the age of 18. In case of pets, the station has a relationship with an animal shelter to house them.

“We currently house about 13 people,” explained Grace Clayton, a volunteer with the Cold Weather Station. “We have capacity for 26.”

Clayton and other volunteers are conducting tours of the facility every Sunday in January from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

The Cold Weather Station offers a bed, showers and bathrooms, laundry, and a kitchen where volunteers cook dinners or offer meals donated by area residents and businesses.

“We see a definite need in the community, and people are using the shelter,” Clayton said. “We’re glad to be able to offer it to them.”

The Cold Weather Station is looking for volunteers to help with chaperoning the guests, scheduling volunteers, meal preparation, administrative support, social media promotion, graphic design, fundraising, and grant writing.

Donations are being accepted of cash, grocery story gift cards, cold weather clothing items such as gloves, hats, coats, and sweaters.

“It really can be life-changing,” volunteer Nancy Berchtold said about volunteering. “When we care of the least of our brethren, we’re taking of Jesus.”

“I was driving a car load of guests from Lehighton, and just as we were approaching County Club Road, you could see the building here glowing. One of the guys with us said, ‘Oh, just look at that. I love looking at our home. It’s like home, sweet home.’”

The Lehighton Cold Weather Station is a project operated by the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, a ministry of Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Lehighton. The Society core values include Commitment to Care, Empathy in Action, Humble Service, Grace & Forgiveness, and more.

The society also offers a day program Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at the Ss Peter & Paul Parish center, 242 N. Third St., Lehighton, the former convent building.

The day center operates 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. those days and offers showers, laundry, and lunch, as well as connection and support.

To volunteer or to make a donation, contact the Saint Vincent De Paul Society at www.lehightoncoldweatherstation.org, or by email at info@lehightoncoldweatherstation.org.

Family Promise

Family Promise of Carbon County kicked off its new Cold Weather Station as of Jan. 1, and has been helping people in need of shelter during nights that are especially cold. The station will be open until March.

The shelter is located in the former St. Francis of Assisi church building, 150 W. Mill St., one block behind the Turkey Hill in Nesquehoning. The station offers shelter, a bed, showers and bathroom facilities, a kitchen, and laundry.

“We believe in assisting people holistically; so, whatever each person may need. Everybody is different as to what they need,” explained Cathy Lamm, Executive Director of Family Promise.

The shelter offers classes in budgeting, nutrition, and relationships. There is job coaching, resume building, referrals to CareerLink.

“Also, if folks need mental health intervention or drug and alcohol counseling, we will make referrals for that, too, and bring people on site,” Lamm added.

They are set up currently to house up to 15 people, and there are a few beds still available. Dividers have been ordered to separate the beds, to give people some privacy.

“We feel that we can effectively case-manage that many folks. After the cold weather is over, we want to make sure that they’re on to their way to sustainable housing,” Lamm said.

Family Promise is in need of financial donations. They also accept grocery store gift cards, paper products, cleaning supplies, food, and prepared meals.

Donations can be made online at FamilyPromiseCarbonCounty.org, or call 610-379-4757 for more information.