Volunteers at Bedford warming shelter provide meals and comfort to residents amid winter storm

Saint John’s Episcopal Church has turned the Bedford Presbyterian Community Center into a warming shelter, offering refuge to residents during a severe winter storm. The shelter operates around the clock, providing warmth, meals, and temporary shelter to those in need.

Volunteers work in shifts to maintain operations, ensuring that individuals seeking comfort have access to essential services. “Anyone who needs a place to stay warm and comfortable, whether it be for the day or overnight, we are here to welcome them and offer hospitality,” said Steven Wandrei, a volunteer at the shelter. “Some people have a home, it’s very expensive to heat.”

The facility has seen record attendance in its fourth season, with an average of nine overnight guests per night. Additional visitors come throughout the day for warm meals and temporary shelter from the cold. Despite treacherous road conditions, community support remains strong, with locals bringing meals to the shelter on their way home from work.

In an effort to remove barriers for those seeking warmth, the shelter has expanded its services to accommodate pets. Currently, three dogs and a cat are being housed alongside their owners. The local humane society has donated food for the animals, making it possible for pet owners to seek shelter without leaving their companions behind.

“The best part of volunteering is that everybody is so appreciative of just being a host,” Wandrei said. “As the saying goes, the giver gets more out of the giving than the receiver does typically.”

The shelter aims to remain open 24 hours a day throughout the cold snap, but maintaining operations requires consistent volunteer support. A minimum of two volunteers must be present at all times, with three being preferred. “Without the volunteers who stay here during the day and are willing to stay overnight, we can’t make this ministry possible,” Wandrei emphasized.

Those interested in volunteering can find sign-up information at the shelter’s website or on the warming center’s Facebook page.

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