City Union Mission is looking for your help this holiday season.
The organization, which does not receive government funding, provides shelter, food and other services for the homeless.
Its annual campaign called ‘Celebrate Hope,’ has roughly $4 million to raise to meet their goal to expand their services to those in need.
“It goes to feed people and house people and put them on the track to discovery of what it is that they need to do differently and so we triage every person that comes in and kind of determine what’s going on in their life,” said Dennis Chapman, director of development for City Union Mission. “Is it budget? Is it health? Is it divorce? Is it gambling? All kinds of addictions that they may come across and we try to put them back on the track of getting their life together.”
Chapman says during this time of year, they see a large increase of people who come in needing assistance and a place to stay.
“We know right now our numbers are going to be in the 500 to 700 range,” said Chapman. “And depending on how severe the weather gets, it can get up to, last winter for instance in the emergency men's, we got up to 356 people and so that's a lot of people who are hurting.”
Chapman said Monday night the organization will have close to 200 people seeking shelter.
“When it gets cold later on in the week, we’ll have close to 300 in the men's emergency shelter,” said Chapman. “The family shelter will house around 113 and we have 30 that are on long term recovery so about 170 at the family shelter. So there’s a lot of people hurting and this time of year has a lot of different emotions attached to that.”
Donations will be accepted through January 31st.
For more information about donating or volunteering, click here.
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Rae Daniel can be reached at Rae.Daniel@KSHB.com.
