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Inn Out of the Cold

Thursday, 14 November 2013 14:39

Woodstock's homeless shelter is set to open for another cold weather season

As the nights continue to get colder, Operation Sharing's Inn Out the Cold Program is preparing to open their doors.

Starting Friday night, the annual program that provides overnight shelter as well as food to those less fortunate will start for another season. 

Coordinator Eric Schmedl says there are people who wait all year for this service.  "We generally have 8-10 guests (on busier nights).  I've had as many as 16 on a very cold night.  The bottom line here is, we are here to prevent them from freezing to death."

He goes on to say they house a diverse group of people, and even animals.  "Well last year we had over 50 people come in over the course of the season.  That included 10 women and we also had 2 dogs, so we had to have accommodation for pets.  We had usage of 700 bed spaces, which is on par with the previous year."

Schmedl is also issuing a challenge to Oxford County's politicians to get a first hand experience staying at the Inn.  "One thing I'm doing is challenging the politicians in Oxford and that could be federal, provincial or municipal, to spend a night here and maybe gain a bit more sympathy and compassion for the people who live here in the cold nights.

Starting Friday, Inn Out of the Cold will be open 7-days a week from 7pm to 7:30am at Old St Paul's Church on Dundas Street. 

Anyone wishing to donate food items can do so any night after 7pm. 

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