The cold weather and extra snow has chased even more people in off the streets they call home.
"We have been coping. It's been crowded but we have managed," said Patrick Pocha, one of the key volunteers with the Prince George Metis Community Association's after-hours drop-in centre. "I know because I have been there every night. With all the cold temperatures and all the snow, we were overflowing. We ran out of soup and sandwiches every night. Thank god we had a backup supply of cuppa-noodles because that's what they were getting by the end."
The busiest hours of this recent rush were between 11 p.m. and 1:30 a.m., said Pocha. It is not uncommon for the centre to get a visit from up to 70 people in one night.
"We are a safe place to come in, warm up, have some food to give them some energy to last the night," Pocha said.
It is not a place for sleeping, but anyone can drop in to warm up, watch a movie, play a board game, have a cup of coffee, and spend time until morning. The centre is open from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m.
The weather was not all negative, said Pocha. Some of the clients used it for benefit. He started to notice this as he went out on one of his frequent missions to shovel the access areas in front of the Bladerunners building where the centre operates (1074 6th Ave., behind The Keg).
"Some of the clients came out and helped shovel," Pocha said. "Some even got little jobs shoveling and made some money for themselves. Some did some volunteering to shovel show at places like Active Support Against Poverty. The snow was good for them."
The Centre could use donations of craft supplies, and they would never refuse food or warm clothing like socks and mitts. They are doing a crafting focus on making dream catchers right now, so things like beads and rawhide string would be appreciated. Pocha said it has been gratifying to see people come in cold off the street, tinker away at a crafting project, and then take it with them when they go because they are proud of it. Some give it to a loved one, some keep it as a memento.
Pocha himself is learning from the clients how to play card games he never knew before.
The opening date for the centre was Nov. 17 and they are funded to remain open until Feb. 27.
Since opening night the centre has welcomed 773 people. Of those, 406 were of First Nations origin, 183 were non-native, the rest self-identified as Metis.
Ten of their visitors were over the age of 65, three were younger than 19, 152 were aged 19 to 30 and the rest were between 31 and 64 years of age.
The centre is also a referral site for drop-in visitors to get information about places in the area to access help for their individual needs. Fifty people have been tracked as having actually taken that information and gone to one of those agencies of reference.
If more money can be gathered, said Pocha, the centre can stay open longer in the year.
"It still gets really cold after Feb. 27," he said.
An informational website has been set up (www.afterhoursdropincentre.org). For information or to offer help of any kind call Pocha at 250-561-9484.
A cash raffle is underway now, with a Feb. 18 draw date.
cash raffle, Feb 18 draw date, tix $2 ($500, 300, 200) 50 books on the street, WalMArt on the next two weekends, volunteers needed to help sell = all proceeds to pay food co-ordinator
bags and aprons for same now.
shopping bags and aprons
693 Brunswich is Sassafras Savouries openiong on Feb 1
Grammas Kitchen 901 E Central
1074 6th Ave Bladerunners
Chris Bone is City Hall contact
PGNAETA
