Shelter preparing for winter

For the first time since being established in 2017, Sisters Cold Weather Shelter (SCWS) organization has a consolidated space for their office and supplies.

Wellhouse Church has rented SCWS the building they used for their food bank, with the shelter taking over operation of the food program that is open every Thursday. Last week 220 customers received 850 lbs. of Thanksgiving meals.

Shelter Executive Director Sharlene Weed said, “Our current space was the one we used a couple of years ago as a shelter and we had no reported incidents or problems. Our core mission is to keep people safe and out of extreme weather conditions.”

The building at 442 N. Trinity Way is zoned for a community center.

“We are operating as a welcoming community space for all citizens of Sisters,” said Weed. “We can offer life-saving supplies, meaningful community connections, food, help with personal hygiene, clothing, and cold weather shelter. We currently have no agreement to serve as a shelter, but we are preparing by recruiting and training volunteers (new and returning), going through our current supplies, setting up the clothes closet and community space, and running the Thursday market. If we have the capacity to run the cold weather shelter we’ll do it. We hope to be open when conditions warrant it.”

The board is currently assembling their packet to submit to the City as required by the Emergency Declaration. Weed said they meet the requirements, but are not yet ready to open as a cold weather shelter.