We are deeply grateful to announce that late last year, NIPSCO awarded our shelter a cold weather grant as part of their Annual Hope for the Holiday Campaign. This initiative, created by Organization NIPSCO, extended support to 21 local organizations throughout their service area in Northwest Indiana, demonstrating their broad commitment to community wellbeing. For our shelter, this generous support helps us manage the significant heating costs of our historic building, particularly during crucial times when we extend our services as a cold-weather shelter to the community at large.
During extreme winter weather events, we open our doors to additional community members seeking warmth and safety as a designated warming shelter by the city. Our shelter becomes a beacon of warmth and hospitality for those who might otherwise face dangerous temperatures without protection. While this expansion of services creates additional demands on our resources—from increased staffing needs to extra meals and housekeeping supplies— NIPSCO’s grant allows us to redirect funds to meet these essential needs.
“This grant represents more than just financial support—it’s an investment in human dignity and community compassion,’ says Harrison Holtkamp, Executive Director. “When temperatures drop to dangerous levels, we can now focus entirely on getting people through our doors and keeping them safe, rather than worrying about how we’ll manage the increased costs when we operate as an emergency warming shelter. NIPSCO’s support helps us save lives.”
The timing of this support is particularly meaningful as it coincides with our highest energy usage period of the year. Winter months bring unique challenges to our historic building, with heating costs often consuming a significant portion of our operational budget despite ensuring our building is as energy-efficient as possible. By helping offset these essential expenses, the grant enables us to focus more resources on direct community support when it’s needed most.
The partnership between our shelter and NIPSCO, especially through their Hope for the Holiday Campaign, demonstrates the power of local organizations working together to address critical community needs. Their understanding of the unique challenges we face, particularly during extreme weather events, shows a deep commitment to supporting vulnerable community members during challenging times.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to NIPSCO for their generous support and partnership in serving our community. Their investment in our work, as part of their broader initiative to support local organizations, strengthens not just our organization but the entire community’s ability to protect and care for our most vulnerable neighbors during the harshest months of the year.
