Southwest Oxford Mayor David Mayberry takes the Inn Out of the Cold Challenge
David Mayberry has taken the Operation Sharing Inn Out of the Cold Challenge.
The Southwest Oxford Mayor recently spent the night at the shelter set up in the basement of Old St Paul's Church on Dundas Street.
Mayberry says it was a great experience.
"Anytime that you have an opportunity to learn about what's happening in your community, things that I've never been involved in or had direct knowledge of, I think it's a good idea and you should and educate yourself as often as you can and about as many things as you can."
"I came away completely impressed by the willingness of the church to provide the area. I think it's the role and responsibility of the church but the other thing that really impressed me was the volunteers. A handful of core volunteers make that happen for five months every winter, every night of the week, I think you just have to say wow."
Mayberry says he thinks it's a great declaration by the churches to be providing this service and remembering their basic teachings by providing a warm place to those who are cold and a bed to those who are tired.
Mayberry says he has enough grandchildren that sleeping on the floor doesn't phase him so the experience was pretty much what he had expected.
"Good clean place, clean blankets, you know warm, welcoming volunteers. It was about what I expected and I was just really proud to see the community providing the service. The fellow that was sleeping beside me in the morning "good morning neighbour!" so we had no problem at all."
Mayberry was the first dignitary to take up the challenge this season.
The shelter is open nightly from 7pm to 7am.

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