Volunteers Needed for WARM Shelter Program
Three Oaks Center wants to remind local residents that WARM, Wrapping Arms Round Many, winter emergency sheltering program for the homeless in St. Mary’s County is in need of volunteers to help with registration and to be van drivers.
WARM volunteers change the lives of the homeless men and women the program serves. Positive interaction with the WARM guests provides a sense of community and fellowship.
WARM is seeking volunteers for registration. Registration is held at the Three Oaks facility in Lexington Park between 4:45 and 6 pm. Registration volunteers are asked to commit to two days a month. Volunteers will interact with all pre-screened guests each night the guest attends from the time the guest signs in for the night at 5 pm until the van leaves for the host site (which is no later than 6-6:30 pm).
Volunteers must be 16 or older and must have parent’s written consent if younger than 18. This is a great opportunity for high school students to meet their requirements of community service.
There are many more homeless men and women in St. Mary’s County than the shelters have space for. WARM was established out of necessity when the local shelter reached out to the faith based community and asked for help. The WARM program provides up to 25 homeless men and women with a warm, dry, safe place to be nightly during the cold winter months. All WARM guests are given a warm, safe place to sleep, a delicious dinner and hot breakfast, and are treated with kindness and respect.
The first WARM season took place in November 2009. The WARM program is very successful with more than 50 churches participating.
WARM operates in close partnership with Three Oaks as well as St. Mary’s County government, including the Department of Social Services, Walden, the Office of Aging, Department of Corrections, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, and MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital.
If you are interested in becoming a Volunteer for WARM registration, please contact Dolly Griffin at [email protected] or Jennifer Herriman at [email protected].
Volunteer van drivers are also needed.
Drivers must be 18 or older and have a valid driver’s license, no other experience is required. Vans will be provided to transport WARM guests only from registration site in the evening to the host site within St. Mary’s County. Drivers are also needed for pick up at the host site in the morning and drop off at registration site. You can sign up for either the am pick up or the pm drop off, but we would like to have drivers commit to at least two shifts a month.
If you are interested in being a volunteer van driver, contact Ursula Harris at 301-475-4200, ext. 1684 or [email protected].
To learn more about Three Oaks Center, visit its Leader member page.
