USA:MD:Hagerstown:Washington Square United Methodist Church:Missions

Washington Square United Methodist Church

538 Washington Avenue, Hagerstown, Maryland

REACH Caregivers

Emergency Shelter for Homeless People

One of the pleasures of life is sitting in front of a fireplace on a windy, snowy winter night, wrapped in a warm robe, reading a book or watching television. But it is a sad fact that while you are warmed by furnace or fireplace, safe and dry, there are people who are looking for some kind of shelter wherever they can find it.

Several years ago a group of representatives from area churches formed REACH Caregivers (Religious Effort to Assist and Care for the Homeless). In those first years, the group made arrangements with local motels to accept homeless guests who were brought by REACH Caregivers volunteers. When it became apparent that the number of homeless people was greater than the group was able to house in that way, a Homeless Task Force was set up to find a better solution.

The Cold-Weather Shelter for the Homeless was begun in 1996. In the early years it was moved from church to church every two weeks. Members of the host churches provided evening meals and breakfasts, as well as bag lunches for the guests to take with them in the morning.

Now that Christ Reformed Church has purchased and renovated the former shoe factory on West Franklin Street, and has donated space, the cold-weather shelter has a permanent home. It is no longer necessary to transfer cots, blankets, and other supplies from church to church every two weeks. Churches and civic groups take turns serving meals and packing lunches. Volunteers are trained to staff the shelter. A paid security guard is always on duty to insure safety. During the cold weather months, the shelter is open from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. each night.

The Homeless Shelter does more than give food and shelter; it changes lives. There have been some wonderful success stories as people have been helped to find jobs and apartments and to turn their lives around. Some now volunteer at the shelter where they found help and encouragement.

What can we do to help? During the winter, small items of clothing (hats, socks, gloves, long underwear), as well as personal hygiene items (small sizes) and paper supplies can be brought to the church library, to be taken to the REACH Caregivers office.

Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers

Another REACH Caregivers program, Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers, is designed to help people who have homes, but need some assistance with daily living. Volunteers drive them to doctors' appointments, take them grocery shopping, help them with light housework and visit them. If you can give an hour or so a week, or even less time, the REACH Caregivers office (301-733-2371) would love to hear from you.

Crisis Intervention

The third REACH Caregivers project is Crisis Intervention. A helping hand can save a family from eviction; it can provide a bus ticket for someone who cannot otherwise get to the safety of home; it can buy medicine in an emergency. Our financial contributions support REACH Caregivers in all of its programs, as it carries out its mission to respond, out of compassion, to people in need.

For More Information

See the REACH Caregivers Web site.

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