Burnaby's extreme weather shelter, located at Westminster Bible Chapel at 7540 Sixth St., may be opening its doors this week if the nights continue to be this cold.
According to Wanda Mulholland, co-chair of the Burnaby Task Force on Homelessness, the shelter is open between October and April when the weather is deemed to be unsafe for people to be outside.
So far this winter, the shelter has been opened for 23 nights with 114 bed nights utilized.
"For people in need of a safe, warm, dry place to sleep, the Burnaby extreme weather shelter provides a welcoming and supportive refuge," Mulholland said in a press release.
She said the shelter was open several weeks ago when snow and cold weather hit the city.
And while this week's forecast looks to be cold, the final call on whether the shelter is open each day falls to Dave Brown, Lookout Society coordinator for Burnaby Extreme Weather Response.
"If the call is made, it's in the morning and then we try to get all that info out to people by noon," said Mulholland of the procedures in place if the shelter has to be opened that night.
"A hot nutritious meal is an important part of providing comfort to people coming in from the cold," said Brown.
The response team welcomes donations of prepared meals such as lasagna with bread and salad; hearty soup; ham or turkey dinners with potatoes and vegetables; shepherd's pie; or pasta and tomato sauce.
"These meals can be stored and frozen at the Lookout Society Russell residence and shelter at 740 Carnarvon St. in New Westminster until needed by Burnaby's Extreme Weather Response," said Brown.
People interested in donating food can contact Kevan Oxley at 604-515-2728 or [email protected].
The most urgent needs for the extreme weather response team at this time include: food, warm blankets, winter coats, gloves, socks, boots and one-zone transit Faresavers.
Non-food-related donations may be dropped off at the Southeast community policing office at 7191 Arcola Way.
For more information, go to www.burnabyhomelesstaskforce.org.
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