Snow is about to fall in the Mile High and with it comes colder temperatures. With a high of 19 degrees tomorrow and colder temperatures on the way, one Denver shelter, The Samaritan House, is getting ready for the cold snap by preparing its emergency shelters and asking for donations of warm winter clothes.
“We’re prepared to max out our overflow shelter if it becomes critical late tonight,” said Geoff Bennett, vice president of Catholic Charities’ shelter services, on Tuesday. “We’ll put people in conference rooms and our hallways if needed. It would be greatly appreciated if the community can help and give donations for families and individuals bearing this weather.”
The Samaritan House, located at 23rd and Lawerence, is a downtown shelter that offers overnight beds, warm meals and clothing and typically houses up to 350 men, women and children. This year, The Samaritan House Women’s Shelter is particularly in need of donations since they are reporting a “significant increase in women experiencing homelessness — from 60 seeking help in December 2014 to 250 women last week as the weather turned cold.”
“We’re seeing more and more people looking for the coats, hats and gloves that we hand out,” said Bennett.
The shelter is looking for socks, hand warmers, plus-sized sweaters and coats, snow boots and other cold weather gear as well as new bed sheets, new pillows and blankets. You can donate either by going online here to purchase needed goods or drop off items by going to 2301 Lawrence Street, Denver any day of the week 7 from a.m. to 7 p.m.
Good Samaritan House. Photo courtesy of ccdenver.org.