Port Moody's St. Andrew's United Church is putting a call out to residents interested in volunteering when the church hosts the cold/wet weather mat program next month.
The mat program, which rotates between different churches in the Tri-Cities from the beginning of November until the end of March, gives people without a home a warm place to sleep during the cold months.
It will begin operating at St. Andrew's on March 1 and will wrap up on April 1. Six volunteers are needed nightly from 9 to 11 p.m. while another six are required for the morning shift between 6 and 8 a.m.
Orientations will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 15 between 7 and 8 p.m. and on Saturday, Feb. 18 between 10 and 11:30 a.m.
While St. Andrew's is putting a call out for help, Hope for Freedom Society director Rob Thiessen said there is not really a shortage of volunteers.
"It's more of a notice to the community that they are going to be putting on the shelter," said Thiessen, whose organization runs the mat program. "They have always done it in the past in November so people who live near the church need some sort of notice."
All mat program volunteers go through an orientation process, he said, during which they learn the shelter's procedures and policies.
Those who are interested in volunteering are asked to call St. Andrew's United Church (2318 St. Johns St., Port Moody) at 604-939-5513 or email [email protected].
