What is that Overnight Shelter like, anyway?

Submitted by: Sheila Holder

We’re talking about the Evanston Emergency Overnight Shelter, sponsored by Interfaith Action. We are participants at UCE and will host people during the weeks of Feb. 25, Mar. 4, and Mar. 18, providing the night time temperature will be 15 degrees or lower.

I was curious, myself, so I took a short training in the Fall. Volunteers are needed for three time frames: set up 8-9:30pm; overnight 9:30pm-7am; cleanup 6-7am. I didn’t intend to ever do the overnight shift, but when extreme temperatures were sustained during the holiday period, I decided I’d give it a try.

This is what I found – It’s not so bad – I would do this again!  The guests (18 the night I was there) were grateful to have a safe, warm place to go, even with such strict time limits. They were respectful of the rules, each other and the volunteers. A staff member was always there – I was never alone.  I met a friendly couple, Howard and Lisa, from Beth Emet who were finishing up their set-up shift. I had a comfy armchair (a cot, if I wanted it) and a light, which was perfect, because I had brought a lot to read. I actually got several hours of sleep.

The a.m. volunteers were there before I knew it and my day got an early start and a boost from feeling useful and productive.

We will need many volunteers for all shifts during the weeks that we host. The shelter is held only if the temperature is low enough, so you may or may not be needed on a particular day. Based on my experience, I recommend this to everyone who is looking for a flexible, rewarding volunteer experience that truly makes a difference to people in our community.