With temperatures predicted to drop in the single digits for the next week, those with nowhere to stay can seek a temporary solace thanks to a pair of recently-created Carbon County shelters.

The Lehighton Cold Weather Station, now located at 560 Country Club Road in Mahoning Township, has experienced a recent surge of late.

In the 37 nights they’ve been open, the shelter has served 35 unique individuals, according to Cathy Jones, operations manager.

“Definitely the numbers were up since it got colder,” Jones said. “It’s going well; we’re doing good.”

Jones said that this past Monday night, they had 14 unique individuals stay with them.

“Hand warmers are always welcome, hats and heavy-duty insulated gloves,” she said. “Coffee and drink mixes, homemade baked goods and fresh produce (are always welcome).”

Volunteer Grace Clayton emphasized what their particular needs are.

“What we need is volunteers; that’s what we have great capacity for,” Clayton said. “That’s the biggest need we have.”

Clayton said their guests have been overly appreciative of the refuge the Lehighton Cold Weather Station provides.

“Feedback from the guests is they are just overwhelmed by their experience going in there; they love the (brand-new) beds, they’re comfortable, many of them have not slept in a bed,” she said. “St. Luke’s really pulled out all the stops getting us some comfortable beds.”

But a cozy, comfortable bed is only part of the story, Clayton assured.

“Just the food they get there, a tasty warm meal, lots of coffee, just feeling safe,” she said. “What’s exciting to me is that as we’re taking people from Lehighton out to the shelter, everybody is taking a sigh of relief, starting to defrost in the car, driving up to the building and seeing the lights on to the building and knowing they have a safe place to sleep at night and some good food.”

Areas of need

It’s the exact opposite, however, come morning time, Clayton said.

“It’s kind of reverse in the morning when we’re picking them up to take them back to town; they know they have a cold morning ahead of them,” she said. “They’re out in the cold until 9 in the morning until we pick them up again until 5 (p.m.).”

Clayton explained their biggest concern is that on Sundays and Mondays, there is no place for them to go, as the Lehighton Area Memorial Library is not open.

“That’s the only place where they can go and use the bathroom and sit for a few minutes; otherwise they’re outside walking trying to keep themselves warm,” she said. “The library is the best resource that we have in town for people; with them being closed on a Sunday, there literally is nowhere for our people to go.”

Which is why Clayton said she would “love to see a church within walking distance of downtown Lehighton open up for a couple of hours on a Sunday, even just to offer a warm cup of coffee, warm soup, that would be a dream.”

Another area of need is Clayton boots and shoes for people, and suggested that gift cards to Walmart, or anywhere where they can get shoes and big winter jackets for people are most appreciated.

“The biggest need we want to get out to the community is we need people; in order to have the shelter open, we need 12 people (volunteers) there each night,” she said. “We give all the training, provide the supervision, but we need people willing to do that.”

Clayton said that while they typically do four-hour shifts, “people can do longer or shorter if they need to; we’re really flexible to what people can do,” she said. “We’re also open to different ideas of how shifts can be organized.”

Similarly, she added that they also need volunteers for the day program Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Ss. Peter & Paul Parish center, 242 N. Third St., Lehighton, which operates from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. those days.

“We just need people who are willing to engage,” she said, adding they need to make an appointment. “I encourage everybody to come and have a cup of coffee with us at the shelter (in Mahoning Township), and see what it’s like and see if it’s a good fit.”

Clayton noted they’ve been holding an Open House every Sunday in January, though anticipates they’ll likely have to cancel the one scheduled for this Sunday in lieu of the inclement weather that’s been forecast.

“We’ve had some great interactions; we’d love to see more people there,” she said. “It’s more just an opportunity to see and ask questions; we enjoy having people come out and have conversations and show people why the shelter is so vitally important in our community.”

Clayton said it’s that time of interaction that can go a long way in moving forward.

“We just so desperately need to engage as a community for shelters for people, mental health, addiction,” she said. “We have a population that is just trying to survive, and we’d love to have that conversation with people.”

Clayton explained they are “actively working with other organizations in the county, anybody who’s working in the space, trying to get together to bring together services that can support our people,” she said. “We want to build a network of people, and have these conversations at the county level for those who are in desperate, desperate circumstances.”

For more information, contact Esther at 570-657-6738, or Cathy at 570-952-5359.

Family Promise

It’s been just as busy over at Family Promise of Carbon County, located in the former St. Francis of Assisi church building, 150 Mill St., Nesquehoning.

“We’re not open just certain days, we’re open 24/7 over in our emergency shelter,” Lamm said, adding that it’s open until March 31.

Currently, Lamm said they have 11 folks staying with them at their emergency shelter, and another 31 folks at their family shelter, 17 of which are kids.

“We have about 117 on our wait-list,” she said. “Once the cold weather hits around Christmastime, that’s when the phones really start ringing off the hook.”

Lamm added, “today (Wednesday), it’s been nonstop, and it’s unfortunate that we have to turn people away. We’re stretching our resources.”

She noted that at their family shelter, their capacity is 31, while at the emergency shelter, they have the capacity for 12.

Lamm added, “Any landlords that are willing to take a chance in renting to any of our families, I would love to speak to them. Our families here at our family shelter, they’ve been through financial literacy classes, they would make wonderful tenants.

“They might not look the best on paper, but they’re phenomenal people, they’re all working. If somebody wold take a chance on taking them in, that would be wonderful.”

As for right now, Lamm explained, “Food is a concern with this many people.

“If anybody would like to donate, grocery store gift cards are immensely helpful to us,” she said. “We always can use volunteers.”

Lamm said anyone who is in need and interested in their shelter program may call 610-379-4757 for an appointment.