On August 31, members of the Strathmore Overnight Shelter invited individuals to participate in a volunteer information session at the facility.

The session also included a tour of the centre and a chance for potential volunteers to discover some of the opportunities that will be available at the facility.

“We are probably around a few weeks away right now, we just need to get our volunteers in place and some training,” said Richard Rodgers, director of outreach for the Strathmore Overnight Shelter.

“Tonight at the Harvest Healing Centre, at 6 p.m. we are going to have interviews for volunteers, which includes overnight staff, kitchen staff and cleaning staff,” he said.

“You don’t have to bring a resume,” he said. There will be one-on-one interview’s with executive director Elizabeth Karp. There will also be police clearance forms available at the centre.

Rodgers explained that the recruitment of volunteers brings the shelter just one step closer to opening.

“We need those volunteers in place, and enough of them, so if a person can’t make it that night we have some back up for that,” he said. Volunteers are trained and they undertake police record checks.

He explained, in the past that the shelter did have a special day with tours in order to thank their sponsors, donors and volunteers.

“Technically all the physical aspects of the shelter are finished,” he said.

“We want to be 100 per cent ready and any gaps that we need to fill complete before we open, so we are 100 per cent prepared,” he said.

The Strathmore Overnight Shelter is located at 102 Canal Gardens Rd. When open, they will cater to adult men and women and offer dorms, hot meals, showers, laundry facilities, if needed a change of clothing, crisis counseling and referrals. Individuals stay at the shelter generally for up to five days.

“If you’ve got nowhere to go you can come see us when we are open and we will try to get you the help that is needed, with the referrals and someone to talk to and just to get back on your feet,” said Rodgers. “That’s the main purpose of the shelter, it’s a stepping stone to getting back on your feet,” he said.

“We will have numerous resources in Strathmore and the Wheatland area where they can get the help that they need,” said Rodgers.

“If they need food they will go to the food bank, if they need help with clothing, we have a clothing store upstairs, which if they call ahead we can access that for them. We have the resources in place, and if they follow the referrals then we should be able to accommodate them to get their help that they need,” he said.

Rodgers explained at the end of the five days staff will refer individuals to additional agencies in the region.

“Our main goal is to keep Strathmore citizens, or Wheatland County citizens in the area to get help,” he said.