For the homeless population coping with sub-zero temperatures, the opening of the Wausau Community Warming center on February 1st can't come soon enough.
The Wausau city council approved the conditional use permit on January 8th, allowing the center to use Saint Paul's Community Center downtown. But Diane Borchardt of Catholic Charities says they need more volunteers before the doors can open. The center will accept up to 15 adults who will sit or sleep on a recliner for the night.
Borchardt says they bad about not being able to open sooner, given the recent cold weather, but they're still short on volunteers and supplies.
Volunteer positions are available starting at 8:30 p.m. and running through 10 a.m. the following day in shifts of several hours each. Borchardt encourages individuals and groups to volunteer throughout the evenings.
Informational meetings will be held Monday, January 21st from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Tuesday, January 22nd, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the St. Paul's Community Center conference room. Volunteers are not required to attend an informational meeting but must take part in a training session held Tuesday and Wednesday night from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. or Thursday morning from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
For more information on how to volunteer or donate supplies, contact Catholic Charities at (715) 849-3311 Monday through Thursday or email at dborchardt@cclse.org.
