Current Release: September 11th, 2007 | Vol. XXIV Iss. 10

photo by Diane hotaling

Wesleyan preps for homeless shelter

by america ballerini

aballerini@vwc.edu

This will be the second year that Virginia Wesleyan will have a Winter Homeless Shelter on campus. The shelter is hosted by the Office of Community Service and will hopefully be an event held every year.

Wesleyan works with the Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless (PVH.) “People know to go to PVH to get services,” said Diane Hotaling, the Operations Manager. “PVH gives the guests ID cards when they come to Virginia Wesleyan and drives them to and from campus.”

This year the shelter will be held from January 6-13, 6pm-7am. “The guests check-in every night but can’t check in if they are intoxicated,” Hotaling said. After the guests check-in, student volunteers proceed with the schedule. “First, dinner is served,” said Hotaling. “Then our guests shower and have an hour and a half social time where they can play cards, board games, watch television, listen to music, etc. Then it’s lights out at 10pm.” When lights go out, six to eight student volunteers watch the doors and hallways until 5:30am when lights go back on and the guests leave.

This year the committee hopes to be able to add other activities. “Some new ideas are: a chapel service, a doctor for screening, haircuts, manicures, and telephone and computer use,” Hotaling said. Also new this year will be Virginia Wesleyan home basketball games. There are three home games during the week of the shelter. To allow the guests to watch the Marlins, there will be “Basketball

Buddies.” A student volunteer will sit with a guest during the game.

As soon as the event ended last year, the committee started planning for this year’s event. “This event is a huge undertaking,” said Dr. Kathy Stolley. “There are a lot of different parts.” That is why the participation of the campus is very important. “The whole campus community helps make this happen; security, housekeeping, students, faculty, and staff,” Stolley said. “The real magic happens when students connect,” said Hotaling.

The Office of Community Service is always looking for volunteers for the event. Volunteers are needed for tasks such as preparing and serving meals, watching doors, and monitoring showers. If a student is interested in volunteering, they must attend one of two orientations. Also needed for the shelter are supplies. Students, faculty, and staff can donate items such as soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, razors, powder, underwear, lotions, shaving cream, feminine hygiene products, wide-tooth combs, and nail clippers. Items such as coats, sneakers, and backpacks are also welcome. To sign-up, just go to the Community Service Office or email dhotaling@vwc.edu before December 3rd and indicate the day and shift. All items and volunteers are need and very much appreciated. The Winter Homeless Shelter means a lot to the guests and Virginia Wesleyan tries to make it an enjoyable week for all of them.