BELLOWS FALLS — The Greater Falls Warming Shelter recently honored its volunteers for their contributions as nighttime volunteers and meal preparers with a dinner held at Our Place Drop-in Center.
Recognized for giving many hours of time at the shelter were Pat Torrey, who was cited for the most number of 1 to 7 a.m. shifts, and Dick Shaw and Jill Newton, who were both noted for volunteering many shifts and hours and for always being ready and willing to fill in when needed.
Meal providers recognized were Charles Montgomery and St. John's Episcopal Church in Walpole, N.H., and Antonia Andreoli and Mary Lou Huffling.
“We couldn't do it without our volunteers,” said GFWS Site Manager and Volunteer Coordinator Deborah Clark, who is assisted by John Janiszyn.
The shelter closed April 15 after providing an emergency overnight space during the colder months for 35 individuals, 26 males and nine females. These clients collectively used the shelter 548 times this season.
“More than half of our guests were only with us for one or two nights, which indicates the emergency nature of homelessness,” said shelter board president Louise Luring. “It also makes it difficult to work with folks who are so transient, although a few of our longer-staying guests have found more stable housing through our cooperative work with Our Place.”
Luring said the shelter is evaluating its needs for a site for next year and is hoping to find a more permanent location, perhaps in conjunction with Our Place.
“We both need to upgrade our space, and working with Our Place seems like a natural progression for both organizations,” she said.