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Posted on June 28, 2011 by msavage

What is Out of the Cold?

“Out of the Cold” is a program which strives to respond, in a meaningful way to the needs of the most abandoned of our city’s poor and homeless people. These needs include the basic physical needs of shelter, food and warm clothing, and the deeply human needs of compassion, dignity and feelings of self worth. We provide a warm, welcoming atmosphere, including a nutritious meal and a nice place to sleep in the winter months.

Why Have an Out of the Cold program?

Homelessness is not just a problem of larger cities like Toronto. The problem exists in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. There are local agencies that offer support to the homeless, but they are often overworked and overcrowded. For a variety of reasons the homeless in our community cannot always go to the agencies that are helping our homeless. Out Of The Cold provides another option. (We are not a solution to the problem of homelessness, but rather an aid to help in coping with it.)

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Out of The Cold Benefit Concert

Posted on February 8, 2013 by msavage

Voices of Hope Choral Ensemble
“Helping our community through music”

Requiem

John Rutter
Hear My Prayer Mendelssohn

Conductor Gordon Burnett

Soprano Kim Allred
Organist Alison Clark
Instrumental Ensemble

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
Queen and Weber Streets
Kitchener, Ontario
Sunday, February 10, 3 p.m.
Pay what you can event. Proceeds to Out of the Cold

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Quick Links/FAQ

Posted on September 21, 2012 by msavage

Quick Links

Training Dates For 2012-2013 Season
Volunteer Job Descriptions
On-line Registration
Events Calendar
Out of the Cold Sites
FAQ Continue reading →

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Out of the Cold Training Dates

Posted on September 6, 2012 by msavage

New volunteers must attend the sessions..

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Numbers are up 25-35% over last year.

Posted on December 6, 2011 by msavage

This year, for the month of November, Out of the Cold , has seen an increase of approximately 25% over November of last year. Out of the Cold has been open for 2,334 nights. In that same period we have fed 192,350 and our bed night count was 95,462. At this rate, we will feed over 200,000 and sleep over 100,000 before this season ends.

These numbers tell a terrible tale. It means on average we have fed 82 people each night and slept 41. Now I realize that the numbers do not exclude those who have used us more than once. Still, I know, we still have at least 10 people with 10+ years living on our streets.

It was most distressing to me, that in the last provincial/federal elections, poverty issues were not even on the agenda. This year to date, six homeless people,, have died on our streets; someone’s child, parent or sibling.

When will we wake up and realize that it is cheaper to house people?

Why do we continue to let them live and die on our streets?
Homelessness is not a crime!

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