Category: Weather

This weekend brought us some of the coldest weather of this winter. Be on the lookout for anyone who is not dressed appropriately or who seems to be suffering. Err on the side of safety. Notify authorities. You can call the shelter hotline at 1-800-535-7252. They can send a van to check on the person. If it looks more serious call 911. The police and EMS are happy to check up on people who are out in the cold.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2016/02/14/d-c-area-forecast-brutal-cold-continues-today-wintry-mess-on-track-for-tomorrow/

Last January, GMC partnered with Georgetown University’s Center for Social Justice to create a volunteer Hypothermia Outreach Team (HOT) to do street outreach on the coldest nights and to make sure that those living on the street in our community are safe.

WAMU featured the Hypothermia Outreach Team in a segment today. We think this is required listening and hope you will share it with your friends and family! It does a great job of telling the story and showing the interactions between our volunteers and those who stay on the streets.

Last November, we posted a story on our Facebook page about Jason, one of our guests who saw another homeless person on the street, unmoving, and called 911. Jason saved his life.

This morning two hours before we opened, one of our guests, “IB,” was walking down our alley to wait for GMC to open and saw another one of our guests, “ST.” There was a problem, though. ST was lying face down on the ground without any blankets. He wasn’t moving. 

Thankfully, IB had a cell phone, realized something was very wrong, and called 911. Paramedics took ST to the hospital, and the officer who responded to the call told us later that ST was almost dead when paramedics arrived. Had IB not decided to come to GMC early and wait for us to open, ST would have probably died from exposure.

We are lucky that our guests watch out for each other and know when to call 911. Of course, we wish that it never has to get to the point of calling 911.

Hypothermia is real. Hypothermia is dangerous. Hypothermia can happen to anyone, and it can happen right in your own backyard.

Please make sure you have the hypothermia hotline (1-800-535-7252) in your phone. Don’t pass by someone on the street and write them off as passed out drunk. Call 911 if you see something that doesn’t look right. Also, be mindful if you are outside how your own body is responding to the cold.

Death from exposure is preventable, but only if we all pay attention and work together.

Brrrrr! We hope you all stayed warm this week as the polar vortex made us all shiver and bundle up. Hopefully, most of you were able to stay indoors and stay warm.

Many of the homeless population we see at GMC usually stay away from shelters, but for many, it was simply too cold this week. After the first night or two of braving it in the elements, some finally caved and went to hypothermia shelters. Of course, GMC was open all day, every day with an endless supply of hot coffee and sandwiches for our guests.

For those who braved the weather despite the sub-zero temperatures, DC was really proactive and had warming buses throughout the city where the homeless could go, sit, and warm up for a little while throughout the night. During the day, homeless outreach teams also braved the cold– and Georgetown Ministry Center was no exception!

On Tuesday, Communications Director Stephanie and Program Coordinator Amie were out on the street for nearly two and a half hours, passing out blankets and granola bars with Craig Keller from the Department of Behavioral Health’s Homeless Outreach Team. They didn’t think they were going to see anybody, but they still saw several people who were thankful for the blankets.

On Thursday, Dr. Catherine Crosland came to see patients at GMC and afterwards did street outreach for a few hours with Gunther and Amie. They checked up on people for signs of hypothermia and to see if they were doing okay.

The temperature this weekend is supposed to be a balmy 60 degrees, but though it may be warm, the weather is still dangerous since it’s also supposed to rain. And with the mercury bouncing up and down like this, it’s difficult for people to know how to dress from one day to the next.

Thank you to everyone who has helped by donating socks, hats, gloves, and scarves, as well as to all of our volunteers and sandwich donors! We appreciate all of your efforts and dedication to our mission.

Last year, Water Street Gym held their first coat drive for us. This year, they held another coat drive, lasting two months, to benefit not only Georgetown Ministry Center, but also Bread for the City and Jubilee Jobs. Steve and Susan Kostorowski, along with Patricia Peva, of Water Street Gym placed donation boxes in strategic high-traffic locations, such as banks and coffee shops.

We think this coat drive was three times more successful than last years. Many, many thanks to Water Street Gym and to everyone who donated such beautiful coats!