Nov/Dec Beans for Bags Spotlight: Winter Welcoming Center

Now Open

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Now Open ❄️

The Winter Welcoming Center (WWC) provides a warm, welcoming space for those in need of shelter during the colder months, from November through mid-April. Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with extended hours during severe weather, the WWC offers essential services including warmth, food, resource information, WiFi, computer access, and fellowship. Guests also receive donated clothing, shoes, sleeping bags, personal hygiene items, and harm-reduction supplies. In addition, we distribute shower tokens, laundry vouchers, and help connect individuals with local services whenever possible. Our commitment is rooted in compassion and inclusion, embracing everyone who walks through our doors.

Now entering our seventh season, the Jefferson Interfaith Action Coalition continues this critical work, evolving from an emergency response into a trusted community service. Our aim this year is to deepen connections between our guests and our partners—organizations like OlyCAP, Bayside Housing Services, Dove House, and others. We face the possibility of becoming a year-round day shelter if the Emergency Shelter at the American Legion closes, a transition that presents both challenges and opportunities.

Support from the community, including funds raised at the co-op, will be vital in helping us grow into a permanent, reliable resource for the unhoused in Jefferson County. These funds enable us to move beyond temporary relief and further solidify our role in the community.

Last winter, we rose to meet an urgent need, operating as a 24-hour emergency warming center for nine days during a declared winter emergency. Our flexibility and ability to save lives underscore the importance of our work.

Looking ahead to 2024, we plan to increase harm-reduction and anti-bias training for our staff and volunteers. We are also seeking new steering team members to help guide us toward becoming a stable, year-round organization if necessary.

During the 2023-2024 season, the WWC was open for 152 days, providing over 608 hours of service. We served an average of 24.6 guests per day, with a total of 3,640 guests throughout the season, reflecting an increase from the previous year’s average of 22 guests per day and 3,060 total guests. This growth highlights the continued and rising need for our services. With ongoing collaboration from our partners, we ensure that there is always a safe place for those in need, no matter how cold the winter gets.