The congregation is one of a dozen local churches to offer shelter as part of Safe Harbor, a network that provides refuge from the weather. From October to early April, churches rotate on a weekly basis to offer safe haven as the weather dictates. Several other churches provide volunteers.
People can stay from 6 p.m., when dinner is served, through breakfast at 8 a.m. the following morning.
Safe Harbor was started in 2003. The number of people seeking assistance has continued to grow. Organizers say the difficult economy and temperatures that have been more bitter than usual have forced between 30 and 40 people each night to seek shelter.
To read more about this special ministry, please see a feature article published in the Traverse City Record-Eagle newspaper.
