For the past two weeks, we’ve been spending a lot of time talking about Nest La Porte; that is no accident. As summer begins to wind down to an end, that means that soon, truly before we know it, overnight lows will dip down, the weather will turn, and sleeping outside becomes dangerous. For instance, did you know that at 40 degrees with rain, hypothermia can start? It doesn’t have to be well below zero to have serious consequences from exposure. This is why Nest La Porte is so vital. From October 15th through the season, this shelter will save lives, as it did last year.
As a non-profit organization, Nest Community Shelter and now Nest La Porte rely on grants and donations to operate. We operate as lean as is responsibly possible, from supplies to staff, thus relying on a dedicated team of volunteers at both locations. This year will be no different. It is the generosity of the community in time, goods, and funds that makes what we do possible, and together with the generosity of the community, we save lives.
In gearing up for Nest La Porte, we have a list of needs for the upcoming season. These aren’t simply “nice to have items,” they’re needs. Every night at Nest La Porte, each guest is provided with a dinner before bed and a breakfast to start their day. Food is expensive, as are supplies, utensils, paper products, and so forth. We need these items to operate a safe and sanitary emergency shelter in La Porte.
Our current list of needs as of today (August 19, 2025) are:
• Cereal
• Coffee
• Creamer
• Sugar
• Toilet paper
• Multifold towels
• Paper plates
• Disposable utensils
• Napkins
• 5-gallon bottles of water
• A full-size fridge and freezer (Freezer on top and fridge on bottom)
While these items may not seem like much, they truly are key to allowing us to operate. A few donated boxes of cereal might not seem like much, but they are the start of a guest’s day, working back towards a healthy, happy life. That bowl of cereal is the energy needed to accomplish something big, whether it’s working towards home or simply knowing that there is kindness in the community. Many of the items on our current list might seem small, but it is sometimes these small things that make the most significant impact in the lives of our guests.
These goods can be dropped off at either Nest Community Shelter or at The Center Township Trustees’ Office in La Porte (1108 W State Rd 2, La Porte, IN 46350). Once our shelter opens in La Porte, you can also drop off items after the shelter opens nightly.
Aside from these important physical goods, we are in significant need of volunteers for Nest La Porte. As a volunteer-based organization, the support of our community makes what we do possible. We are looking for community members to volunteer as consistently as possible. For example, perhaps you’d like to help us with check-in every Tuesday night, or maybe you’re a night owl and would love to oversee our men’s floor. Nest La Porte will be open every night from October 15th through April 15th. This means we do not take a night off when the weather is nasty. We don’t close because it is a holiday. We are there to save lives, and that means we need community support to make it possible. Nest La Porte saved lives last year, and it will do the same again this season.
Remember, not all heroes wear capes; some volunteer at Nest La Porte!
If you’d like to learn more about Nest La Porte or volunteering at Nest La Porte please click here.
