Overflow shelter manned by volunteers

On the graveyard shift, Vancouver police Officer Brent Donaldson often sees people at their worst.

So, when he volunteers at the Winter Hospitality Program, it’s a different scene.

“To see people and how appreciative they are to sleep on a gymnasium floor … This is their home tonight,” he said, setting up sleeping mats and sheets in St. Andrew Lutheran Church on Sunday night.

Donaldson and his family are volunteers from Meadow Glade Adventist Church.

“I don’t think our community is aware of this need,” Donaldson said. “This is an overlfow shelter and it’s full and people are still on the streets.”

Alana Smith coordinates volunteers from Meadow Glade Adventist. On Sunday night, 14 people had signed up for four-hour shifts, the first beginning at 6 p.m. and the last ending at 8 a.m. today.

“I feel like it’s a privilege to be able to serve these people,” she said.

The rules

WHO is not a drop-in program, Smith noted. People must call in and reserve a spot. They are given an alcohol breath test when they arrive about 6:30 p.m. and are given the services of a case manager to help with their problems.

It is a night program, as guests must be out of the churches after breakfast.

But having a bed, snacks, a hot shower and a place to sleep means a lot. And churches provide food to send them out with a sack lunch.

“I am very, very grateful for this place,” said Andrea Rogers, 39, who moved to Clark County from Salem, Ore., three months ago. She said she’s been homeless for five years.

Looking at the 47 bed mats in the gym, she acknowledged, “There’s going to be issues. You have to be tolerant because your neighbor is only two feet away from you.”

‘Any one of us’

Joy Gault is the volunteer site coordinator at St. Andrew and runs the Tuesday night craft activity.

“I thrive on it,” the retired schoolteacher said of her volunteer work. “This could be any one of us.”

Gault worships at Mill Plain United Methodist Church. There are 40 faith organizations that provide volunteers. Last year,1,550 volunteers worked 13,000 volunteer hours, said Shanda Hochstetter, 29, emergency shelter clearinghouse coordinator for the Council for the Homeless.

And it is not the same people who want shelter year after year, said Serenity Madrone, 31, an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer and a WHO worker. She said, “78 percent of our clients are new to WHO.”

Eight years and running

The Rev. Jim Stender was at the church eight years ago when WHO began.

“It really hit a nerve of the DNA of the congregation. It really touched the hearts of the people here. It has gained momentum since that first year,” he said.

“I’ve been amazed at the volunteers wanting to continue it,” Stender said.

He said the program can be exhausting for six months, but, “You try to keep the big picture in mind and we’re here to help people.”

He also lauded the volunteers: “They are really protective of our space.”

On Sunday night, JoAnn Bailey, 61, formerly of Nevada, said life has dealt her some bad cards. But as for the shelter at St. Andrew, “The people that come into help are just wonderful.”

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