Winter Homeless Shelter Open; Seeks Volunteers

The Hermiston Warming Station, a shelter for the homeless during winter, is open for the season and is currently seeking additional volunteers.

The station is now in its third season of providing a safe and warm place to rest for people experiencing homelessness during the freezing nights of winter.

During the month of November, the shelter will be located at St. John’s Episcopal Church at 665 E. Gladys Avenue. The site for the month of January is the ARC building on Orchard Avenue, and the site for the months of February and March will be announced soon. The Hermiston Warming Station is still looking for a location for the month of December.

The station will open the doors on nights that are projected to be 32 degrees or below at any time during the night and will be staffed with volunteers. Check-in times are 7-9j p.m. and guests can stay between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

In order to serve those in need, the Hermiston Warming Station needs additional volunteers to serve the guests and monitor the station. Night time volunteers must be 18 years or older, attend a two-hour training, and pass a criminal background check. Volunteer trainings at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 665 E. Gladys Ave., are scheduled for Nov. 3 at 3 p.m., Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m., Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. and Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m.

“We are looking forward to a wonderful season of working together with you to bring some light and warmth to those in our community who are homeless, cold, and vulnerable,” said Carol Johnson, chair of the Hermiston Warming Station Board of Directors.

Anyone who may know of a building in Hermiston that can be used as a shelter for the month of December should contact Johnson at 541-720-4295 or e-mail her at warmingstation@gmail.com. Visit the Hermiston Warming Station website for more information.