Letter to the Editor: Lord of Life Welcomes Homeless at Hypothermia Shelter

On Sunday, Feb. 10, Lord of Life Lutheran Church wrapped up its sixth Hypothermia Shelter. Every year, Lord of Life, along with 34 faith-based organizations, provides a week-long shelter to those in our community who need a place to stay warm during the winter months as part of FACETS Hypothermia Prevention and Response Program. Preparing for the shelter is a huge undertaking and the planning is year-round. The shelter started on Sunday evening, Feb. 3 and ended Sunday morning, Feb. 9.

We welcomed between 25 and 45 guests per night, with over 250 volunteers helping during the course of the week. Some of our wonderful volunteers included the seventh and eighth grade confirmation classes, who prepared and served sloppy joes one night and lasagna on another.

Also, our Lord of Life Youth Pups, fourth through sixth graders, made over 120 brown bag lunches, which included a cold-cut sandwich, beverage, fruit, and chips. Volunteers from Olam Tikvah Synagogue started the week off by providing support for the first night and meals for an entire day. Meals for the week ranged from hot meals for breakfast; brown bags to go for lunch; dinners such as smoked turkey, meatloaf, roast chicken or baked potatoes and chili. There were also plenty of activities planned, such as a Super Bowl party, music by the Shameless Men’s quartet, a life skills class, and even a field trip to the FISH Clothing Closet.

The schedule was meticulously set for the early evening and overnight volunteers. Overnight volunteers took turns taking two-hour sleeping shifts in the hallways, while the others monitored the multi-purpose room where our guests slept. Mornings started at 6 a.m., at which time coffee and breakfast were prepared and served, and brown-bag lunches were packed and dispersed. By 7 a.m. the facilities were being cleaned and prepared for the evening. Evenings began at 5 p.m.; as the tables and chairs were being set up in the multi-purpose room, the meal crew prepared dinner in the kitchen. Our guests arrived every night at 5:30 p.m. Dinner was usually served by 6:30 p.m. and followed by activities and socializing. Transportation for our guests, to and from the Vienna Metro Station, was provided by the volunteer drivers of the Lord of Life bus. And so went the schedule for seven mornings and nights.

Eileen Rodgers

Director of Communications, Lord of Life Lutheran Church

Lord of Life is a congregation that worships in Fairfax and Clifton.

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