Code Blue shelter looking to pack up for the season
LANSDALE >> It’s been a busy winter, but looks almost over, and they’re calling for help one last time.
Organizers of Lansdale’s Code Blue shelter are asking for help with a final move from their temporary home.
“We have had a very good and fortunate season, so far,” said organizer Mark Lanan.
He said, “165 beds were occupied, 284 volunteer shifts were filled, meals for 210 were prepared, 80 unique volunteers stepped up, and many hours were spent keeping Lansdale area’s shelter insecure warm and safe.”
Starting in December, Lansdale’s Code Blue shelter has been at Immanuel Church, 1260 Welsh Road, after more than a decade of being hosted at Trinity Lutheran Church, at Main Street and Valley Forge Road.
On each night declared by the county, volunteers staffed dinner, overnight and breakfast shifts, helping those with no place to stay make it through an unusually harsh winter.
That Trinity site was only used for donation drop-offs this season due to COVID protocols, but Lanan said Wednesday the organizers are ready to begin moving back to Trinity from Immanuel soon.
“It looks there will be no more Code Blue declarations this season — but that is not a guarantee,” he said.
“Immanuel Church has been very gracious sharing their space with the shelter, but they need to do some renovations to the area where we have had our shelter,” Lanan said.
With warmer weather now here, and temperatures unlikely to fall below the 20 degree Code Blue threshold, organizers are asking for help with a move from Immanuel back to Trinity on March 27 — not a lot of large items, but plenty of small ones, Lanan said.
“We have never had a declaration past March 26th for the past 14 years, so I figure that the date of March 27th is safe,” he said.
Those interested in helping out can arrive at Immanuel around 10 a.m., refreshments will be offered, and safe distancing guidelines including mask-wearing will be followed by those who can help.
Anyone willing is asked to help move items just a few blocks down the road to Trinity, and can contact codeblue@trinitylansdale.com, visit https://tinyurl.com/CodeBlueLansdale or follow “Code Blue Shelter - Lansdale PA” on Facebook to learn more.