Wausau shelters open doors for extreme cold temperatures

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) - Shelters across Wausau activated emergency plans Wednesday night to accommodate the unhoused population as extreme cold temperatures gripped the area.

Good Shepherd Shelter, operated by Catholic Charities, began accepting people at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. They are located at 360 Grand Avenue, Suite 800, and will house them until 8 a.m. Thursday.

A community “on call” was activated due to the extreme temperatures, meaning shelters around the city have implemented action plans to accommodate the unhoused population.

Good Shepherd Shelter prepared to take in more people than usual. The facility typically houses 30 individuals nightly but can expand to 40 during extreme temperatures.

“We have 30 individuals on a nightly basis. When we are in extreme temperatures like we are now, we can go up to 40. With that, we also have shower services, laundry services, we have dinner each night, and then a cold cart breakfast in the morning,” said Taleah Proctor, coordinator at Good Shepherd Shelter.

In the morning, people staying at the shelter receive essentials before being walked to either Bridge Street Mission or Open Door so they can stay warm throughout the day.

The shelter relies on community support to continue operations. Volunteers are needed during early morning hours from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and for intake shifts from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“Right now, one of the biggest things we have is volunteers in our early mornings from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., and then also we have volunteer shifts available for intake, which is 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.,” Proctor said.

Other ways to contribute include donating hot meals, supplies, or money to help keep the shelter open.

For more information, click here.

Additional shelter options

Other shelters in Wausau are also providing daytime warming centers:

• Bridge Street Mission: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Open Door: 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Salvation Army: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

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