As we gear up to open Nest La Porte on October 15th and look ahead to the colder winter months, knowing we historically see greater numbers of unhoused individuals from our community seeking shelter, we know that we need to rally our community for support. Nest Community Shelter and especially Nest La Porte are volunteer-based organizations, meaning that volunteers make the work we do possible. Without our volunteer base, simply put, we could not do what we do in the communities we serve. As we prepare for the upcoming cold weather months, we are not only calling up volunteers but hiring additional staff as well.
The Reality of Cold Weather For Our Unhoused Neighbors
Every year, we witness the same sobering pattern: as the thermometer falls, our shelter numbers rise, sometimes dramatically. The difference between an October night and a January night isn’t just comfort; it becomes survival. When the elements shift from uncomfortable to deadly, our main shelter becomes a critical lifeline for dozens of additional community members seeking safety and warmth. In La Porte, our cold weather shelter, specifically designed to save lives from the brutal cold, was utilized every night. In Michigan City, we saw near-record numbers consistently during the colder weather months.
Doubling Our Efforts, Doubling Our Need, Doubling The Impact
This upcoming winter presents a challenge. In addition to managing increased capacity at our main shelter in Michigan City, operating at La Porte requires another team of volunteers and staff. Essentially, we’re running two complete shelter operations simultaneously, which means we need twice the staff and volunteers to serve our community effectively. This also means twice the impact, twice the lives being saved, and more opportunities to give our unhoused neighbors the support they need to find their way to a permanent housing solution.
At Nest La Porte, we’re actively staffing up to support the upcoming seasonal surge. Meanwhile, our Nest La Porte location requires us to build an entirely new team and recall returning volunteers from last year. This isn’t just about finding extra hands, it’s about recruiting a whole team of dedicated volunteers who can help us maintain the same high standards of care and safety at both locations.
What Our Volunteers Do: They Save Lives
The work our volunteers do each evening is both practical and profound. Here’s what a typical evening looks like at our shelters:
Check-in Process: As guests arrive each evening, our volunteer teams conduct essential safety and health checks. This isn’t just administrative work; it’s often the first warm welcome someone receives after a difficult day, and these initial interactions set the tone for a guest’s entire experience with us.
Meal Service: Our teams work together to serve dinner, ensuring that every person who walks through our doors receives not only nutrition but also dignity and respect. These shared meals become moments of community and connection.
Evening Operations: After dinner service, volunteers help the shelter transition into its overnight phase, ensuring everything runs smoothly as our guests settle in for the night.
Overnight Safety: Our overnight staff maintains a vigilant watch throughout the night, providing security and peace of mind for everyone in our care.
Each of these roles is essential. Without adequate volunteer support, we simply cannot provide the level of care our community members deserve.
Two Opportunities to Get Involved
We understand that volunteering at a shelter might feel intimidating if you’ve never done it before. That’s exactly why we’re hosting two information meetings where you can learn more about what volunteering with us looks like at Nest La Porte:
These meetings are designed to be welcoming and informative. Whether you’re considering volunteering for the first time or you’re a seasoned volunteer looking to expand your involvement, these sessions will help you understand how you can make a real difference in your community.
Your Community Needs You
When we talk about volunteers, we’re not just talking about filling shifts on a schedule. We’re talking about community members who understand that housing insecurity affects real people, our neighbors, our fellow community members, who need support to get through the most dangerous months of the year. Kindness can move mountains and completely change the trajectory of someone’s life for the better.
The volunteers who step up during cold weather months literally save lives. Your presence at check-in might be the difference between someone feeling welcomed or rejected. Your help serving dinner might be the highlight of someone’s day. Your commitment to showing up regularly helps create the stable, reliable environment that allows our neighbors and community members to focus on getting back on their feet.
The Bottom Line
As winter approaches, we face a simple equation: more people needing shelter plus expanded operations equals a critical need for more volunteers and staff. We can’t do this work alone, Creating a safety net for community members experiencing homelessness is a collective responsibility.
If you’ve ever wondered how you can make a tangible difference in our community, this is it. If you’ve been looking for a way to turn concern into action, we’re offering you that opportunity.
Our community has always stepped up when it matters most. As the weather turns cold and the stakes get higher, we’re counting on that spirit of community and support once again.
