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are homeless, or precariously housed in Yuba-sutter.
Each week, a church dedicates a large space on their property to arrange a series of cots, bedding and other necessities for the guests, who arrive each evening and are provided with dinner, snacks and some supplies – all of which is done
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by an army of volunteers.
“REST has always been about compassion, providing relief and meeting peoples’ needs at a time of crisis,” Anderson said. “We’re happy because it seems that there’s been more attention given locally to the issue of homelessness – we’re trying to work with the other groups that are helping the homeless.”
Kati Nuckolls said she’s been homeless for about nine years and has been a guest at the roving REST shelters for the past three years.
“I’m glad they have somewhere we can stay that’s not the river bottoms,” she said. “I’m grateful to all the churches and volunteers.”
Anderson said REST, which operates in the colder months, this year between Dec. 1, and April 5, began in 2010 and has provided shelter for about 20,000 people and meals for 25,000 since that time.
“Looking to the future, REST, we would like to be part of creating a yearround shelter and that could be run by REST. Or we could partner with another organization,” he said. “We want to continue partnering with the churches because it’s a huge asset to have the churches on board.”
A total of 12 churches in Yuba City and Marysville open their doors for the REST program as a shelter and another 10 churches, along with the Boy Scouts of America Troop 7050 and Cool Hand Luke’s, help provide daily meals for the guests.
The Yuba City Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints provides all of the snack bags and breakfast supplies for the entire season and donates cots and sleeping bags.
“Already this season, REST has assisted victims of the Camp Fire, pregnant women, children, the elderly, the disabled, people with limited English proficiency, people with special needs, victims of domestic violence and many others experiencing homelessness,” Anderson said. “A number of our guests this season have already been able to transition from our emergency shelter to more stable situations such as transitional or permanent housing and yet our shelter remains at capacity with those who still need a safe place to sleep each night.”
“Some of the families have been able to move on from our shelter and on their own,” Anderson said. “Transitional housing is a big part of it and we’re just one part of that. There are a lot of other groups that help because everybody’s need is different.”
Without a considerable contingent of volunteers, about 150 people, Anderson said the shelters would be hard to operate.
“Volunteers help with driving guests to and from the shelter, helping as the churches are setting up, cooking meals and greeting guests,” he said. “It takes about a dozen shifts each day. It’s intense. It’s 15 hours a day that the shelters are open and there’s a lot of behind the scenes work that goes into it and it takes a lot of people.”
He said there are paid staff members who are at the church overnight, but the majority are volunteers.
“We’re always looking for people who can volunteer to help or donate,” he said.