Calls for Help: Winston-Salem

An emergency cold weather shelter for the homeless opened yesterday, and will be open every day until February 28.  Located at First Baptist Church on Fifth Street in Winston-Salem, check-in begins at 8:15pm, guests will wake up no later than 6:15am and the gym will be cleared by 7:00am.   A meal and clothing ministry is also being provided  by Centenary UMC’s Loaves & Fishes, also located on Fifth Street.

The shelter has specific needs for community involvement.  They are asking for new or gently used blankets, that will be washed between each use.  Your donated blankets can be dropped off at First Baptist on Fifth at the Spruce Street entrance any evening after 8:15pm.  Overnight volunteers are needed, as well as check-in and hospitality volunteers.

The shelter's most urgent need is volunteers that are able to provide food.  A simple prepared meal for 35 people is needed daily (except for Wednesday and Sundays).    

Examples of a meal:

• Sandwiches, pasta salad and a cookie
• Chili and bread with a cookie
• Soup and bread with a cookie
• Pasta salad, mixed fruit and a cookie

For more information about meal drop-off time, location, and other volunteer opportunities at the shelter go here.

More calls for help:

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC: If you've got time during weekdays, we could really use your help. We've got food drive donations to inspect, sort and repack and thousands of donated eggs to be regraded before we can make them available to our partner programs.   Find out more about volunteer opportunities at Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC here.

The Winston-Salem Rescue Mission is asking for volunteers to fill and distribute tote bags to the homeless men that they service.  For more information, as well as a link to needed items, please go here. 

The Shalom Project has a need for clothes.  All clothing is accepted, but they currently have a specific need for men's clothing, men's shoes sizes 10-13, and children's clothing, socks and underwear. Two regular volunteers are also needed on Mondays from 9:30am-12:00pm.   For contact information please go here. 

The Salvation Army is in desperate need of breakfast cereal.  They are also out of baby diapers.  You can drop at 1255 N. Trade or 130A Stratford Ct.