TD pulls together to warm hearts, hands and feet in winter storm
Levi Bell and his pup, Bear, and Roni Blegen on the bucket and two friends in the Orange Subaru chat this morning, Jan. 24 near St. Vincent de Paul’s building on West Third Street in The Dalles. The four said they came through recent winter storms thanks to some additional help from locals. Roni, at far right, said she was taking shelter in a van near Martinez Auto Repair at Jefferson and Second streets Downtown the Dalles. She said she and a friend named Michael were attempting to get propane and food back to the van when they got separated during the depths of the bad weather last week. She continued to the van and 15 minutes later The Dalles Police showed up with Michael. Police were helping him get the food and propane to the van so the two could keep warm. Roni said she was thankful for the assistance.
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., Jan. 24 — It was a rally in The Dalles when the chips were down.
Subfreezing temperatures for people living on the streets hit on Jan. 11.
The life-threatening conditions kicked city leaders into action, allowing for a temporary warming shelter at the St. Vincent de Paul building at 315 W. Third Street, starting on Jan. 13.
St. Vincent had closed the building after The City filed a suit against the nonprofit alleging public nuisances.
“I’m glad everyone put their differences aside and did what was right for the people; that’s what was important to me,” said Deborah Sandoz, who opened the warming shelter on Jan.. 13 with the help of multiple volunteers and Dave Lutgens and Courtney Crawford.
Sandoz spent 6 days at the site.
The shelter remained open for a total of 9 days, closing just two days ago, Monday, Jan. 22.
Councilor Tim McGlothlin
On Monday, Jan. 22, City Councilor Tim McGlothlin reported both the Mid-Columbia Community Action Council and the warming shelter had taken on 30 plus houseless people during the worst of the freeze.
Twelve people were admitted to MCCAC’s Annex at 200 W. Second Street and 15 to 19 houseless people took advantage of the warming shelter at 315 W. Third St., he said.
A group of volunteers took to the streets to ensure everyone had a place out of the cold if they were willing to take it, McGlothlin and Mayor Rich Mays, included.
Sandoz said the warming shelter saw numbers of people increase to 30 and 40 during daytime hours as community members donated all the food to support meals for the houseless.
McGlothlin said there was only one person who refused shelter but eventually she took advantage of it after remaining in the snow and cold for five days.
From The City of The Dalles Police Department Facebook Page on Thursday, Jan. 18 The Dalles Police Department works 24/7/365 to keep our community safe. We are busy taking calls and checking in our our unhoused or marginally housed community.
McGlothlin also thanked the Dalles Police Department for their assistance in doing wellness checks and searches for houseless people.
“Everybody pulled together,” Sandoz said. “It was good and everybody helped out - the Annex allowed our people to come in there, and the city gave us a three-day extension to keep the warming shelter open when the cold kept coming.”
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