Manchester Area Conference of Churches Shelter to Close on Wednesday

The Manchester Area Conference of Churches will be is preparing to close on Wednesday, reports the Hartford Courant.

MACC is donating beds, trunks, and other furniture to the Cornerstone Shelter in Vernon. The donations will allow the Cornerstone Foundation to refurbish its shelter and give excess beds to clients who find permanent housing.

MACC staff, volunteers, church representatives and interested citizens have held several discussions about the future use of the shelter space.

In April, the organization decided to decline state and federal funding and close the shelter rather than follow a government directive to admit people who are actively using drugs or alcohol.

At least through the end of July, MACC workers will stay at the shelter into the evening to help people who have not heard about the closing and arrive seeking shelter.

MACC will continue to run a food pantry and soup kitchen and will continue to reach out to homeless people to provide resources to house them and prevent others from becoming homeless.

For more, visit Courant.com.