By Wendy Elliott
welliott@kingscountynews.ca
NovaNewsNow.com
Seven churches in the Kentville area found volunteers to man the Inn from the Cold program this winter.
Shelter for the homeless became available again on Nov. 1.
Inn From the Cold has been busy already, according to organizer John Andrew. He said five homeless people are currently using the shelter.
Having a full rooster of churches and about 100 volunteers makes Andrew happy. It’s a marked difference from last year, when only six churches participated.
This is the fifth year for the program, which allows police to lodge the homeless on cold nights.
There are several volunteer-operated winter shelters across the province, which serve about 300 individuals each winter.
The local schedule starts on Monday with New Minas Baptist Church, Tuesday with St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Wednesday with North and South Alton Baptist Churches, Thursday New Covenant Community Church, Friday at Kings Presbyterian church, Saturday St. James Anglican Church and Sunday at New Hope Wesleyan Church.
Inn from the Cold is aligned with the non-profit Open Arms Ministries that provide a drop-in centre and furniture depot at the Cornwallis Inn. It opened in 2008 and currently has a men’s residence, Andrew noted, which houses six men.
Inn From the Cold will close down at the end of April.
