Helping homeless stay warm

Nighttime temperatures are dropping into the 40's, leaving homeless people and others in need in the cold. Two Shelton-based nonprofit groups are trying to help.

The Mason County Warming Center, operated by Crazy Love Ministries, is accepting the donation of new and gently sleeping bags, with the hope of collecting at least 80 to be distributed in mid-October.

Donations of sleeping bags can be dropped off at the center at 110 S. First St. in downtown Shelton between 9 a.m. and noon Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Pickups can also be arranged by calling 360-358-3355.

Community Lifeline is also seeking the donation of blankets for the clients at its shelter at 218 N. Third St.

The blankets should be washable, said Barb Weza, the nonprofit's executive director.

"As pretty as they are, we can't use hand-crocheted or knit blankets," she said.

Weza thanked the community for its supper.

"We've had a great outpouring here," she said.

Wendy Petty, the executive director of Crazy Love Ministries, wrote in an email to the Journal that clients begin with one sleeping bag.

"Last year, we didn't get enough sleeping bags to ensure distribution to everyone until Nov. 11," she wrote. "This year, we are hoping to get sleeping bags out a month earlier to stay ahead of the dropping temperatures. Once people have received their initial sleeping bag, they know they are responsible for continuing to exchange it in order to guarantee they will have one all winter long."

Petty added, "For our volunteers, it can be heartbreaking to fathom how the people we've come to care about are surviving in the winter cold, we at least knew we'd done what we could to keep them warmer."

The Mason County Warming Center is also seeking donations of socks, coats, gloves and hand warmers, Petty wrote.