| All Saints Church, |
All Saints, Mission, has been certified as a place of refuge for homeless and others when an extreme weather emergency occurs-and recently opened up for 11 nights in a row to serve up to 18 men and women.
Verger Ed Betterton reports that the certification involved two training meetings. Very shortly afterwards, cold weather created the need for the church to open up.
"Our guests were fed a meal, slept in a warm and dry church hall, had breakfast, and were sent off in the moring with a bag lunch," said Betterton. All Saints was one of five sites taking part in the program.
Many people from the parish and others from the community worked to provide meals, bedding and clothing. The fire department donated five boxes of blankets. There was "a sense of the community working together for a need," he said.
"When I walk downtown I see and talk to many of our guests, some with stories of success in their lives, some with just a thanks for our efforts. This tells me All Saints Mission is making a difference," said Betterton.