Pendleton Warming Station served 20 guests on Dec. 28, 2016; up seven guests from the same night in 2015. “Without volunteers we can’t operate” says Volunteer Coordinator KaSandra Williams.
Check-in time is 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Guests are assigned bunks, and their belongings are labeled and locked up. Dinner is served from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Lights out is at 10 p.m. Breakfast is served at 5 a.m. and guests are expected to leave by 6 a.m. unless the Day Center is open.
According to their website, their mission is to provide the homeless in Pendleton with warm and safe overnight accommodations. “We will support the homeless in their efforts to end their homelessness.”
Training Director David Williams is an officer with the Umatilla Tribal Police Department. Williams takes volunteer safety very seriously. During a section of volunteer training known as “the doom and gloom talk” Williams tells new volunteers “if you’re aware of it, you can deal with it.” Volunteer orientations are held at the Warming Station, which is located at 715 SE Court Ave.
Neighbor 2 Neighbor Pendleton Inc. operates Pendleton Warming Station and is a 501(c)(3) Public Charity.