By Mike Hazlip—
Over 800 volunteers and nine local churches provided a rotating winter shelter for area homeless in Citrus Heights during the darkest winter months, recently concluding operations on Feb. 25.
Volunteers with the Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART) provided more than 1,000 hot meals to a total of 77 guests in the program, according to a news release by the organization.
Related: Citrus Heights homeless ‘navigator’ shares update on progress, challenges
In the release, HART Chairwoman Irene Hronicek thanked the volunteers who served meals, offered assistance, or engaged in “encouraging conversation” with Citrus Heights residents experiencing homelessness. In addition to a hot meal, guests were given clothing, first aid, and power for charging mobile devices. In the morning, volunteers provided each guest with a to-go meal.
Citrus Heights Navigator Gabriella Yost was available to offer assistance to guests, Hronicek said. Two bicycles were also offered to guests.
The program ran from Dec. 26, 2021, through Feb. 25, 2022, with a total of 16 organizations providing additional services such as mobile hot showers, laundry, hair cuts, and addiction counseling. Churches involved included Messiah Lutheran Church, Antelope Road Christian Fellowship, A Church for All, Advent Lutheran, Celtic Cross, Divine Savior Catholic Church, Holy Family Catholic Church, Fair Oaks Church, and the LDS Ladies Relief Society Citrus Heights Stake.
Lori Bally of Fair Oaks Church told The Sentinel in a previous interview that the church relies on volunteers to keep the program running.
“It takes a ton of volunteers,” Bally said adding she has a pool of about over 70 volunteers who perform tasks such as cooking and serving meals, making laundry runs, and overnight monitors. “The hardest part is the night shifts.”
The Winter Sanctuary program operates with the help of area churches who agree to serve as host sites for a week at a time, before the lodging rotates to another host site. Accommodations are typically provided for up to 20 people.
