Today’s guest post is shared from a Facebook post from Homeless Advocate Madeline Kastler…
Last Monday morning, we were concerned about the frigid weather forecast for the weekend. It would be dangerous temperatures for people sleeping outside in Dakota County, so decided to try to open a warming center. On Tuesday afternoon, we had hit multiple dead ends and were starting to worry. On Wednesday afternoon, we still had nothing….until a phone call on Wednesday night that Grace Lutheran Church in Apple Valley would open their doors.
It is now 3:50 a.m. and I am sitting in the shelter we envisioned early last week on the night that prompted our concern. It is negative 16 degrees on the way down to negative 24. It will feel like negative 37 at its worst. There are 20 people inside tonight.
The outpouring of support has been amazing. We have commitments from two other churches in Dakota County to continue hosting the shelter through Christmas Day. Monica Nilsson, Rebecca Stoen Bowers, Pastor Andrea Roske-Metcalfe, Pastor John, staff at TheLink and so many others have worked around the clock to make this happen.
Please consider donating to support emergency shelter for people in Dakota County.
Homeless in Minnesota 