Non-profit organization Mesquite provides hotel rooms to the homeless

Freezing temperatures are changing the pace of nonprofit service delivery in North Texas.

Some of North Texas Food Bank’s partner grocery stores, such as Sharing Life Community Outreach, used to distribute groceries to their customers.

“With our center here in Mesquite, we are serving a little less than 100 other non-profit organizations that will pick up food from our location and distribute to about 35 ZIP codes in our area,” said Maria Mills of Sharing Life. “Unfortunately, due to the weather, we called anyone who could come in today and get food while we’re closed for the next few days.”

As temperatures drop, the focus of Sharing Life shifts to the Weather Activated Relief for Mesquite, or WARM. WARM helps people who take shelter on the streets, in tents or behind businesses.

“We need to immediately switch to people who are in danger of freezing or dying outside because they have no protection,” Mills said.

Frank Gonzalez is one of their many clients.

“Operation Warm provided facilities where you can have warm beds and safe showers,” Gonzalez said. “A roof over your head is happiness.”

According to Gonzalez, the biggest challenge is “trying to do this on a daily basis, living in weather situations not only in winter but also in summer.”“.

Sharing Life is looking for volunteers who can work three-hour shifts. A total of 24 volunteers are required per day to keep the operation running smoothly.

“We will have about 70 clients,” Mills said. “We provide about 40 rooms. Many of our clients come with relatives.”

As for Gonzalez, he is grateful to Sharing Life staff and volunteers for their time.

They have had an impact on my life,” Gonzalez said. “If it wasn’t for them, I don’t know where I would be today. They stepped up when things got really bad.”

Volunteers can help with check-in and check-out or customer monitoring. To become a volunteer, click here.

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