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The Catholic Charities Dorothy Day Place in St Paul, and volunteers from St. Ambrose Catholic Community, provided relief for people without housing on Saturday amid extreme heat in the Twin Cities metro.
Dorothy Day serves around 33,000 people with the help of 4,000 volunteers every year. On Saturday, around 20 volunteers helped the shelter host hundreds of people looking to cool off.
Chasity Higgins, unit supervisor, said the shelter has been preparing water jugs and other cold treats for people in need.
“It’s essential to let people know that they can come inside,” she said. “We do some extra rounds outside, check in on folks.”
One of the people escaping the stifling heat was Shannon Russell of St. Paul. Russell sat among other guests waiting for an upcoming bingo game. Before the game started, volunteers walked between tables handing out snacks and refreshments.
“They’re lifesavers,” Russell said. “They provide us with cool water. A place to come in from outside … we can stay inside a cool building, especially during this period. They’re wonderful people.”
Russell offered others at her table some of the snacks she picked out from trays circulating around the facility. Volunteers moved back-and-forth, making sure people received the help they needed.
“It’s just about bringing a sliver of hope and happiness into their eyes,” said Kellee Ren, a volunteer at the shelter.
Dave Stecher, another volunteer, said the experience was “humbling,” and that “it means a lot to give to people.”
Behind the scenes, Mike DeJong, food service supervisor and executive chef, was busy assembling meals for everyone at the shelter.
“There’s so much homelessness and so much struggling, and mental illness and other things in our society,” he said. “This is where we serve people that are really in need… here is where the rubber meets the road, where people really need food, really need to be taken care of.”
The shelter provided its guests with other essentials, such as clothing and personal care products. The center offered showers as well. Others also sat outside the shelter catching some shade below the building’s pavilion.
The National Weather Service’s extreme heat warning continues until Sunday night. Temperatures in the Twin Cities metro are expected to reach the high 90s on Sunday. There’s also an extreme heat warning in central and southern Minnesota and a heat advisory in effect for much of the rest of the state.
The City of Minneapolis recommends these tips for staying cool: stay hydrated, wear loose-fitting clothes, limit outdoor activity to early morning and evening hours, and check in on older adults and neighbors
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