SLO: Winter is Here: Volunteer at Prado Warming Station

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12/4/2014 PRADO WARMING STATION 

Each year Prado Day Center in San Luis Obispo opens up as a “Warming Station” to provide overnight accommodations to those homeless individuals and families that would otherwise be outside in the elements.  The Warming Station opens when freezing temperatures and/or more than 3 nights of rain are forecast.

Prado Day Center is looking for volunteers who have a heart for those in need and are willing to donate their time to covering the Warming Station shifts. Please email CAPSLO manager Shawn Ison at sison@capslo.org so that you can get on the distribution list. Later this winter, when they plan to open the Warming Station, you will get an email asking if you’d like to volunteer. Just like with the Homeless Shelter Overflow, no experience is necessary - only compassion for your fellow human beings.

I found a good explanation online for the "Warming Station"  (note that some details may have changed since this was written). The interior of the Prado day center does not change. No beds would be offered. There may be blankets and sleeping bags, but people would have to utilize the interior as is. The accommodations are similar to an 'airport style' of comfort. People can rest in chairs and/or sleeping bags, but no beds will be brought in.

Additional Information

- Warming Station Shifts: 4:30pm-12:00a, 12:00am-8:30am or 4:30pm-8:30am

- Volunteers must complete a volunteer application

- Volunteers must show a photo I.D.

- Volunteers must be willing to be called upon within 24-hours’ notice

Above (click to enlarge): My son Andrew on a backpack with us earlier this year in Surprise Canyon in the Panamint Mountains. Yes, somebody did inscribe "Human Stupidity Has No Limit" into the canyon walls. Yes, this should be considered awful, but we find it clever and funny, and it is a great source for photos. What does this have to do with the Warming Station? Absolutely nothing, but I love photos on text-only postings!

If you can’t volunteer your time, Prado Day Center needs the following items to support the Warming Station:

- Blankets, Pillows, Sleeping Bags

- Disposable plates/bowls/cups/utensils

- Milk, juice, lunchmeat, cheese, mayonnaise, mustard, sliced bread

- Coffee/tea, creamer, sugar, snacks- Cup of Noodles/canned soups

Send your email address to Shawn Ison at sison@capslo.org to get on the Warming Station email list. Note that Prado just completed their first "Warming Station" session of the season, starting on Monday 12/1/2014 and ending on Thursday 12/4/2014. I did not participate, as they had already filled all the spots, but the reports are that it went well.

You can read more about the Prado Warming Station in SLO at the HopeDance website by clicking here.