As the temperatures start to fall here in St. Louis, and in our other home of Portland, our thoughts turn to winter.

On Saturday, the Goose Hollow Family Shelter at First United Methodist Church will open for their 10th winter season. This program serves 24 people a night in families with no government money. It takes 150 volunteers a month to operate. Half the guests each night are under the age of ten. I know all that because until I quit to head off for seminary it was my job to run the shelter as the church’s director of community outreach.

I hope that everyone reading this in Portland takes the opportunity to serve with this inter-faith project. The budget is less than $50,000 per year. Over 20 different faith groups, schools, and community organizations provide the rest. Be part of it. They need you.