Project Refuge Shelter has been open for two months and in that time has fed, clothed and provided shower facilities and sleeping quarters for 177 people.
The temporary homeless shelter opened Dec. 1 and will close Feb. 28. It is being overseen by Salvation Army, New Life Christian Church and the Greater Warsaw Ministerial Association.The shelter is housed in the gymnasium of New Life Christian Church, 744 S. CR 325E, Warsaw, off of U.S. 30.
Transportation is provided for people who need to stay at the homeless shelter. People are picked up at Warsaw Police Department at 7 p.m. or at Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department at 7:15 p.m. seven days a week and are transported to the shelter.
Check-in is at 7 p.m. seven days a week at the church and ends at 10 p.m. each night. Those who stay overnight at the shelter are required to leave at 7 a.m. each morning, but are allowed to return at 7 p.m. each night.
The shelter housed 81 guests in December and 96 guests have been housed in January, according to Jamy Gregory, New Life Christian Church worship minister. The totals account for people who have stayed more than once or for one night. The shelter is averaging six to eight guests per night. Six people now have residences of their own.
Gregory said the community has shown an outpouring of support through financial donations, people making blankets and food donations.
"We want people to know this is a safe place for the community to stay and it is not just for the homeless," Gregory said.
He said a mother of two had called the church asking about the shelter. She said she had a steady job and a place to live, but needed a place to stay because of a heating issue in her home. She stayed at the shelter until heating repairs were made.
Jody and Jerry Eccles serve as shelter managers and have direct contact with those who stay at the shelter each night.
Jerry said one of the most touching experiences was meeting a man who had been walking for 4-1/2 days, was homeless, and stayed at the shelter for three nights last weekend.
"The man had been sleeping in culverts and ditches and was able to eat a meal at the shelter, sleep and shower," Jerry said.
Jerry said another person who stayed at the shelter was a man with a broken foot who eventually was put on a bus to live with family in Wyoming.
"My wife and I have been deeply enriched in our hearts by the experience of being shelter managers," Jerry said.
He said a scripture verse that has been comforting to him while serving at the shelter is Proverbs 19:17. The verse says "he who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deed."
Jody said serving as a shelter manager has been equally rewarding for her.
"We have seven grown children of our own so taking care of those who stay at the shelter is like having an extended family," Jody said.
Those who stay at the shelter are provided with dinner and breakfast, shower facilities, blankets, pillows and mattresses. They are required to help prepare food and clean.
Don Reynolds, who picks up those who stay at the shelter at Warsaw Police Department and Kosciusko County Sheriff's department, said he has seen a great need for the shelter in the community.
"It's been fantastic. I've seen a lot of people who have been saved and the community has shown support," Reynolds said.
Reynolds said there was a man who owned a construction business who hired a couple who were staying at the shelter.
Ken Locke, Salvation Army community ministries director, said he feels the shelter has been successful. He said the organizations are considering having the shelter open next year from October to March.
"The community support for the shelter has been positive," Locke said.
Financial donations are being accepted by the Greater Warsaw Ministerial Association, P.O. Box 1797, Warsaw, IN 46581.
For more information about the shelter, call John Lowe at 574-269-5851 or Ken Locke at 574-267-5361.
