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Homeless shelter short of funds, may close early
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Volunteers serve dinner at the We Care shelter for men in November 2009. The shelter needs immediate funding in order to stay open until their intended close date of March 31. - photo by Journal file photo
The We Care emergency shelter for homeless men may close sooner than expected this year, due to a lack of funding.
The shelter, which houses and feeds homeless men, was intended to finish the 2010 season on March 31. Currently, We Care only has enough cash on hand to remain open through March 21.
“This year more than ever many in our community struggle with poverty and homelessness,” wrote We Care Board of Directors President Bill Sturtevant in a request for donations. “Due to the economic decline and lack of employment opportunities, an increasing number of individuals find themselves without a safe place to sleep or a warm meal.”
Unless more donations are obtained in the coming days, We Care will be forced to close the community-supported shelter early.
We Care has operated shelters locally since 2005, when the group started running the Turlock-owned 400 B St. Emergency Shelter. Last year We Care operated an independent, men-only shelter for the first time, working in conjunction with the women and children-centric Turlock Gospel Mission to fill the gap in homeless care left by the city’s closure of 400 B St.
In addition to food and shelter, We Care provides alcohol recovery programs, seminars on health and wellness, life skills training and notary services.
To donate to the We Care Program, tax-deductible contributions may be sent to P.O. Box 1291, Turlock, CA 95381. For more information contact Maris Sturtevant at 484-1768.
To contact Alex Cantatore, e-mail acantatore@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2005.