Barrie Out of the Cold (BOOTC) is getting ready for the winter months and needs your help in doing so.
Their second annual Socktober campaign begins Thursday, October 20 with a community information session and volunteer recruitment night at the Barrie City Hall Rotunda at 70 Collier Street at 7 p.m.
Entering its 19th year of helping those in the community who are less fortunate, BOOTC season begins November 14 and lasts until the end of April. The hard work kicks off Thursday as the organization tries to not only fill its need for volunteers but also is trying to gather as many new men’s and women’s winter socks.
Debra Exel is the vice-president of BOOTC and reminds folks to think of how their feet get after an hour in the cold weather.
“Our Socktober campaign is in its second year and is used as a way to get as many warm socks as we can to the guests we will have over the six months we run,” said Exel. “There are obviously many problems facing the homeless in our city, but one of which is cold and wet feet. After a long day in the terrible weather, it would be nice to be able to eat and sleep with a warm pair of socks on. We’re looking to the community for donations as well as some much needed volunteer help.”
Exel says that about 1,000 volunteers are needed over the course of the season. There are four shifts a night, seven nights a week; a dinner shift, evening shift, overnight shift and morning shift.
Five local churches take part in the sheltering and each location can take in 35 people per night. Those numbers were tested last year, showing that the situation isn’t getting better.
“The churches can house 35 guests a night and last year we were at or just over capacity,” said Exel. “It may sound like a daunting task, giving your time to help, but we break it up in four shifts and usually each person is only asked to do six shifts over the season. By all means, anyone who can or wants to do more is welcome, but we want to make sure that you’re not being over-volunteered.”
BOOTC used to be considered a temporary solution to the homelessness situation in the city but has now become necessity. With the other shelters in town experiencing increasingly high numbers, BOOTC is becoming a much needed overflow organization so no one has to spend the night outside.
Doors to locations open at 6 p.m. each night where guests are welcomed with a warm, nutritious meal. There is a period where guests get to have some quiet conversation and recreational time before a much needed sleep time where a mat and blanket are provided to each person. There is a partitioned section for any women whereas the men will sleep in the common area. In the morning a hot breakfast is served before guests leave at approximately 7:30 a.m.
“For the folks that come through our doors, this is the highlight of their day,” said Exel. “Circumstances have brought them here, and they all have different reasons, but regardless of the cause of their need for us, enjoy being here for them with food, shelter and an embracing attitude.”
Being the joy in someone’s day is what keeps Exel going every year. The VP got involved with BOOTC about ten years ago when her church was one of the locations that opened its doors. Having gone to a meeting after being invited by a friend, Exel never looked back and wants those who may be on the fence about volunteering to know that the rewards far out-weigh any cons they may have about signing up.
“There is a very clear need for emergency shelters in Barrie especially during a Canadian winter and that’s the cold, hard fact of what we do,” said Exel. “It’s that something as simple as feeding people, making them comfortable and feel welcome when they have no place else to go that is very gratifying to me. Barrie Out of the Cold not only gets people off the street at night, but we treat them with dignity and respect as our guests and this is their home, even if it’s just for the night. Our guests are very grateful and appreciative and I’m always so humbled when one of them makes a point of thanking me, shaking my hand or giving me a hug. That makes it all worthwhile.”
The BOOTC Socktober drive is key for new, warm winter socks, but all types of items are needed. Relying on donations from businesses, individuals and groups to keep going strong, the BOOTC is also looking for coffee, long underwear and other keep-warm charity.
Cash donations will be used to purchase groceries, personal items and cover laundry fees. While those in need of shelter will be allocated to the right spots by the folks at the David Busby Centre, the list of churches and days they run are as follows:
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian on Mondays
Bethel Community Church on Tuesdays
St Mary’s Church on Wednesdays
Central United on Thursdays and Fridays
Collier Street United on Saturdays and Sundays
For more info on how to get involved, visit the Barrie Out of the Cold website.
