Cate’s Spotlight: Help For The Homeless On Coldest Nights

This is the first in what will be a regular column by Bristolian Cate Murway, a longtime columnist writing about happenings in the area.

Give the gift of time – VOLUNTEER.

Give the gift of money – DONATE.

Homelessness in America seems to be more visible. In nearly every large city and many small towns, one can find tents along highways, makeshift shelters made with tarps, and even people sleeping directly on the sidewalk with only a blanket for warmth.

Winter is here and it presents a devastating reality for the homeless.

For the homeless, it is no pristine winter wonderland.

Bone-chilling temperatures can make a life-and-death difference. 

Advocates for Homeless and Those in Need (AHTN) is a Bucks County interfaith nonprofit that serves the homeless and those in need by providing year-long access to emergency shelter, food, and other life-sustaining services with dignity and compassion.

AHTN is always looking for volunteers, skilled and gifted people with huge hearts!

Donations are a high need and always appreciated. No contribution is too small to make a difference.

The thirteenth season of Code Blue runs December 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022.

Penny Martin, board president and co-founder of AHTN opened this non-profit mission 13 years ago, during the winter of 2009-2010. There are now Code Blue shelters in the lower, central, and upper parts of Bucks County.

AHTN’s Code Blue mission offers transportation and a hot meal in a warm, dry and safe place to the homeless and unsheltered, where they can spend bitterly cold nights.

This Code Blue Lower Bucks County-based shelter program provides temporary assistance for the Bristol, Bensalem, Fairless Hills, Levittown, Morrisville, Penndel, Yardley, and Newtown areas.

From December 2nd through March 31, a Code Blue may be called by county officials for a duration when the temperature plummets to 26 degrees or below, and/or there is a chance of excessive precipitation, like sleet, rain, or snow, is also a factor.

Doors open at 8:30 p.m. and stay open through the night only, closing at 7 a.m.

Each person in need is given a cot, bedding, sheets, and a pillow, and the host church provides dinner and breakfast, and then the AHTN buses return them to the location from which he/ she came.

Last year host locations were opened for 67 nights and provided shelter and accommodations for up to 34 people each night.

The partner location for December and January is the Woodside Presbyterian Church in Yardley, and then through February and March, Cavalry Baptist Church in Bristol Borough is the host zone.

Coats, shoes, gloves and boots, thermal underwear, sweatpants, and sweatshirts, as well as sleeping bags are often collected by the churches.

Overall, AHTN currently partners with 42 houses of worship.

Without amazingly dedicated staff and volunteers, NONE of the AHTN missions would be possible.

Karen Mineo, the AHTN Managing Consultant, is the face of AHTN. Karen professionally provides the PR and marketing, securing fundraising and grant monies, as she is an experienced writer and speaker who proficiently knows how to get the mission ideas and goals across in a variety of media, including running direct mail campaigns.

Karen is amazingly proficient.  She came to the area originally from Long Island, and she previously designed leadership and development training programs for corporate America, the Financial Advisors at Merrill Lynch. She is also the president and founder of KM Consulting Group LLC.

Karen feels passionate about the non-profit world, and she joined AHTN about 7 years ago.

Monies and trained volunteers are the backbones, crucially needed to help the vulnerable

AHTN secures at least 18 volunteers whom they excellently train as bus drivers and attendants for their two 15- passenger vehicles and their mid-size Chevy Traverse SUV. Bus drivers pick up the homeless at four designated bus stops near known outside encampments, and transport them to the shelters. Although some of their homeless friends are close enough and are able to walk to partner locations.

Volunteers are also trained to help serve dinner, provide kitchen help or overnight shift responsibilities, and assist on the cleaning teams.

Each CAN change the world and make it a better place. It’s in his/her hands to make a difference.

People like some of the following are an inspiration to all:

Crystal Myers is an experienced AHTN professional program consultant who attains goals and solves problems. Shana Hastings is the administrative consultant who works to assure that the volunteer positions are filled, including drivers for to-go meals, the ‘Wheels to Meals’ mission developed to transport homeless and others in need to houses of worship for shared meals.

To-go meals have been provided since COVID, and the volunteers also drive the meals to bus stops.

Nikki Farrior, the resource consultant, coordinates emergency shelters in local hotels for those having a housing crisis.

All are invited to gift some of their time and talent in ways that make a difference!
 
AHTN truly appreciates all monetary donations that are received.

Monies can be allocated to a specific mission, or those unrestricted will be used by the treasurer and bookkeeper for supplies such as cots and bedding, or transportation needs for fuel and maintenance.

Donations can be made online https://www.ahtn.org/donate-1

• $25 provides transportation for 1 homeless guest to a Code Blue Shelter.
• $50 could provide transportation for 5 guests to a meal at a house of worship.
• $75 could provide emergency shelter for a family in need for one night.
• $150 could provide transportation for 15 homeless guests to a shower/haircut/meal.
• $200 could help a person in need stay in an apartment for another month until they get on their feet.

When it comes down to how to help the homeless, donating is one of the most common and oft-recommended ways.

Donate now. Thank you for your kind and generous financial support.

Checks can be mailed to:
AHTN
P.O. Box 184
Fairless Hills, PA 19030

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