WHO
WHO shelter is under way
For the fifth year, St. Andrew is one of two sites for the Winter Hospitality Overflow program, which provides homeless women, children and families a safe, warm place to sleep during the coldest part of the year.
WHO Is Growing; We Expand
One night in early November we had 13 children and only 11 adults staying in the church in the Winter Hospitality Overflow program. But another night in November we were at our capacity of 42 adults and children, with 15 others on the waiting list.
As a result, two things have changed: On Monday and Thursday nights extra volunteers come just to work with the children. In addition, we went to the church council asking to raise our maximum from 42 to 50 persons, and it agreed. This means we’ll need another case manager to deal with the larger load.
Persons interested in helping with WHO at St. Andrew: contact
Beth Oliver, WHO Task Force chair.
We hope to be able to be open all day Christmas Day and need volunteers to help coordinate that effort.
The WHO program is a major component of Clark County’s emergency shelter system. This season it runs from Nov. 1 through March 31. Last year approximately 675 individuals were served, nearly 500 at St. Andrew.
Additional information can be found at http://www.whoprogram.org
A number of other ways volunteers can help:
- Closet organizer: Monthly review of bedding and toiletries closets. Organize and note needs for WHO task force.
- Bedding coordinator: Put sheets, pillowcases and blankets in bags on Saturday or Sunday afternoon. This can be a one-time or recurring opportunity.
- Laundry coordinator: Pick up laundry on Friday or Monday evenings and deliver it to
- St. Andrew. A pickup or large SUV will be necessary. This can be a one-time or recurring opportunity.
WHO needs:
- Standard-size pillows and plastic covers;will go to Share’s Inn at the Orchards
- Hotel-size shampoo
- Disposable razors, toothbrushes, combs
- Feminine hygiene products, baby diapers, adult “Depends”, ear plugs
- Travel-size toothpaste and deodorant
- Large, clear, 10-mil. lawn bags
- Rubber/latex/plastic gloves
- Hats, underwear, gloves and socks
We are unable to take any other clothing donations. Donations will be collected in the narthex on Sundays. Because of storage constraints, ask a task force member before donating toys or household items.
WHO program DON'Ts
- Don’t give guests money
- Don’t give guests rides
- Don’t allow guests to use phones
- Don’t invite guests to your home
- If you establish a relationship with any of the WHO guests and you are considering any of the above, please first check with a Share case manager to be sure any additional help you give works in the guest’s behavioral plan.
WHO program DOs
- Do be welcoming when you see guests in the building during the evenings and on Sunday mornings
- Do wear your nametags
- Do make a donation marked WHO Food or donate directly to the WHO program online at www.whoprogram.org.
- Do know that WHO guests appreciate bus passes, which can be left in the church office marked WHO staff. C-Tran pass information includes:
- C-Tran’s Go Anywhere Day Pass offers unlimited travel on all C-Tran and TriMet services and includes the Portland Streetcar. The $6 pass is valid for one full-service day and can be purchased from any coach operator or passenger service office.
- C-Tran monthly and day passes may be purchased at these outlets:
Vancouver Mall—C-Tran passenger service office (North lot)
Downtown Vancouver—Seventh Street passenger service office
Fisher's Landing Transit Center—Passenger service office
C-Tran Administration Office—2425 N.E. 65th Ave. (696-4494)
Clark College Bookstore—1800 E. McLoughlin Blvd. (992-2590
All Clark County Fred Meyer locations (full-fare passes only)
TriMet customer service office—Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland (503-238-7433)
