Submitted by the Severe Weather Shelter Coordinator

The Severe Weather Shelter will open for the first time on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at approximately 7 p.m. The location for this first rotation is Islands Community Church at 127 Gilbert Ln., just out of town, off of San Juan Valley Rd.

There will be a volunteer orientation and set-up at 5:30 p.m., that day. Anyone interested in learning more about the shelter and its operation is invited to attend. There are currently volunteers for two days and staff are hopeful more will join to keep the shelter open during the approximately five cold days to follow.

Call the United Way of San Juan County at 360-378-4121, for a current recorded message about shelter openings.

Click here to volunteer. Each shift must have a minimum of two volunteers. One of the overnight slots offers a $100 stipend. Background checks are required.

There are three different shifts per opening:

Set-up and soup dinner: About 7 p.m.-11 p.m.

Overnight shift: 10:30 pm – 6:30 a.m. (paid or volunteer slots available)

Breakfast/clean-up: About 6 a.m. – as late as 10 a.m. the next day.

If interested volunteers have not received training, information can be sent to you. Trained volunteers should fill the “volunteer1” positions. Untrained persons, sign up for “volunteer2” or “volunteer in training” positions. One trained volunteer per shift is mandatory. Email outofthecoldsji@gmail.com, if you have not completed a background check yet.

Attend a 30-minute orientation at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 19 at Islands Community Church. Attendees will unpack the shelter from the Red Cross van and set it up. There will also be a site orientation.

For more info, visit the Facebook group “’Out of the Cold’ SJ Severe Weather Shelter Volunteers & Supporters,” or call the local United Way at 360-378-4121.