Nearly two weeks after a Carbon County shelter’s day program was closed down due to the building it had been using being considered dangerous, several local churches have opened their arms.

The Lehighton Cold Weather Station’s day program will continue for the next few weeks at three local churches who have collaborated to offer space.

Zion United Church of Christ will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays, All Saints Episcopal from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays, and Trinity Lutheran Church from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays.

Grace Clayton, volunteer, said they are still looking for a more permanent “home” for its day program somewhere within Lehighton.

“Day programs are essential resources in addressing homelessness by providing a safe, welcoming and supportive environment for individuals experiencing homelessness during daytime hours, offering essential services to foster stability, connection, and a path to housing,” Clayton said.

“These centers offer a dignified space for relaxation and resource access, operating as crucial daytime, low-barrier support hubs. Ideally, they provide access to services like meals, showers, laundry, case management and support groups.”

On Feb. 6, the Lehighton Cold Weather Station’s day program at the old convent at Ss. Peter & Paul Parish center, 242 N. Third St. closed.

Churches quick to step up

Clayton said that fortunately, Trinity Lutheran Church agreed to open its doors that day to ensure those in need received their lunches and a warm place to stay.

Within an hour after that, she said Zion UCC opened their building and were open all day Feb. 7-9.

Clayton said Zion UCC opened again on Feb. 11, Trinity Lutheran Church opened on Friday, and Zion opened on Monday.

“During all of that time, the churches have been talking to each other and come up with a plan for us to move from church to church,” she said. “We haven’t agreed on a certain number of weeks; it’s week-to-week at this point.”

Clayton offered that “so many more people use our day program.”

She said the daytime program typically sees an average of 15-20 people, though that varies from day to day, and in the last 6 months, has assisted about 120 unique people.

“It’s so they have a meal, making connections, getting people out of the cold or the heat, building relationships,” she said. “Hopefully over time, we’re moving them toward connecting with resources that could help them move with their (situation).”

Home base needed

However, Clayton said the group isn’t taking their eyes off the prize.

“We do want to have a home base; it’s complicated moving from place to place,” she said. “The biggest thing is for people to know where we are on that particular day, but we’re just so excited that the churches have jumped right in and offered it to us.”

In the interim, Clayton said they continue to seek out a permanent home for its day time program.

“We’re still looking,” she said. “None of the churches have showers or laundry; those are hugely valuable things for our community.”

Regardless, Clayton said the churches provide a safe-haven, not to mention they offer a place to come in for a meal.

“How appreciative we are of these churches opening up and being so responsive and welcoming,” she said. “We still need volunteers to staff the programs, people to prepare meals.”

Clayton said they have a certified recovery specialist from New Roots, a sister organization to the Willow Foundation. The Willow Foundation operates a day program at the Heartwood Center in Hazleton.

She stressed that the overnight shelter at 560 Country Club Road in Mahoning Township is not affected at all.

The most unique individuals they’ve assisted in one night is 16 people, with the average around 12 to 14, said Clayton, who added that since December, the overnight shelter has served 43 people, which has been open 62 of the last 75 nights.

The Lehighton Cold Weather Station, operated by the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a ministry of Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Lehighton, closed because of a plumbing issue at the old convent.

Nancy Berchtold, officer of the society, said a pipe burst and the furnace quit on Feb. 4, leaving the old convent with no heat.

Berchtold said St. Vincent de Paul would review its options, including looking at fundraising to see if they can salvage the building.

Berchtold explained they have relied on their day program at the Ss. Peter & Paul Parish Center to provide a meal for them on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as safety and warmth during the day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Lehighton Cold Weather Station, now located at 560 Country Club Road in Mahoning Township, opened in December and provides overnight shelter and meals when winter temperatures turn dangerous.

Joe and Debra Kay Bennett leased the 3,000-square-foot former Concern building to the Lehighton Cold Weather Station for $1 through April. That includes all utilities, electric, water and heat.

John Nespoli of St. Luke’s Hospital — Carbon Campus, donated the beds. Pencor Services Inc. donated the Internet and cable.

Volunteers transport guests from Lehighton to the shelter, where they are served dinner and breakfast.

The shelter serves adults 18 and older experiencing homelessness or housing instability and is open from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. when wind chills drop to 25 degrees or lower, from December through April, depending on volunteer availability.

Anyone interested in volunteering at the Lehighton Cold Weather Station may contact 570-952-5359.