As frigid weather blankets Wilkes-Barre, community efforts are underway to provide warmth and comfort to those in need. Pastor Sam Garnett has opened the doors of Calvary Bible Church, offering a refuge for those seeking shelter from the cold.
“Not everyone knows this is taking place yet,” Pastor Garnett noted on Wednesday, after the church began its role as a Code Blue emergency shelter.
In light of changes within the Code Blue program, both Wilkes-Barre and Scranton have secured new partners, stepping in for the former organizer, Keystone Mission.
Code Blue alerts are issued during extreme cold or snowy conditions to create emergency shelters for homeless individuals.
Scranton has continued its Code Blue operations at Weston Field, now managed by Catholic Social Services instead of Keystone Mission.
Wilkes-Barre had to find a new venue for its Code Blue shelter after Keystone Mission shut down its Wilkes-Barre location during the summer.
“Everybody got together and just volunteered their services, their time, their energy, and that’s how this was put together, with a lot of good teamwork,” said Mayor George Brown.
Calvary Church offers a warm haven in Wilkes-Barre
The church on South River Street, previously used as an emergency shelter, was quickly identified as a suitable location for Code Blue nights, according to Mayor Brown.
“The pastor there, Pastor Sam Garnett, was very helpful and very accommodating,” Brown stated. “So we did secure enough cots to be able to put 70 people in the facility if needed.”
While cots from the former Keystone Mission center were available, the church needed a washer and dryer for bedding. A volunteer stepped forward to provide these necessities.
This week marked the initial use of the shelter at Calvary Bible Church, with five men staying overnight on its first opening.
Code Blue shelters in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton activate when the National Weather Service forecasts windchills below 20 degrees or a snowfall of 10 inches or more. In Wilkes-Barre, a blue light at Public Square indicates when the shelter is open for those without access to media updates.
Aimee Dilger
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WVIA Photo
The Code Blue shelter at Calvary Bible Church had its first opening on Tuesday night, hosting five men. The city plans to keep it operational from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. on Code Blue nights, with an exception on Wednesdays when the hours are 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Volunteers play a crucial role, staffing the shelter and providing essentials such as cots, snacks, and water. Mayor Brown mentioned that discussions are ongoing to further enhance the shelter experience as the winter season progresses.
“They have a warm environment for them to be in and a place to sleep,” Brown said. “It is a safe place because there are people there that volunteer to be on site.”
Scranton adapts with Catholic Social Services
After Keystone Mission reduced its presence by closing the Scranton Innovation Center, Scranton had to find new management for its Code Blue shelter at Weston Field.
While Keystone Mission previously staffed the shelter, Catholic Social Services has now taken over the responsibilities, thanks to planning by the city’s unsheltered task force.
“We’ve been meeting for years now, and when Keystone Mission was no longer able to provide the service, we had a built-in group of people that were ready to think about next steps,” said Mayor Paige Cognetti. “And happily, Catholic Social Services has stepped up.”
Scranton utilized economic development funds to purchase new cots for the Weston Field shelter, which opens during Code Blue nights.
Catholic Social Services will manage and staff the shelter while St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen provides meals. Additionally, they operate a year-round shelter at St. Anthony’s Haven.
Eric Deabill from the Diocese of Scranton noted that the Weston Field shelter’s first night saw ten guests, with 22 more at St. Anthony’s Haven. Both facilities will continue to serve on Code Blue nights, with St. Anthony’s Haven opening nightly from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. and Weston Field from 7:30 p.m. to 8 a.m.
