Media Release
CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kevin Rabago
(856) 451-3407
CODE
BLUE ORGANIZERS TO HOLD VOLUNTEER MEETING OCTOBER 9TH
With last winter under
their belts, Code Blue organizers will be meeting at 6:30pm this Thursday
(October 9th) at Bethany Grace Community Church, 31 N. Pearl Street,
with volunteers, those considering signing up as volunteers and the public to
give a brief Code Blue overview and answer questions.
Code Blue, started last
year by Bridgeton Mayor Albert Kelly to provide warming center locations for
the homeless on sub-freezing nights, the program operated from December through
March; ultimately providing meals and clothes in addition to temporary shelter.
“We’ve learned a great
deal since starting last year. We have policies and program procedures in
place. The October 9th meeting will be a review and a good
opportunity for people to find out about what the Code Blue program is and what
it is not” said Bethany Grace Community Church Pastor Rob Weinstein.
With support from
community volunteers and several area churches, the Bridgeton Code Blue program
was able to provide additional resources including ready- to-eat-meals,
clothing, and referral information for a variety of social service programs
designed to aid the homeless and organizers are hopeful of more support this
year
“Code Blue, for some, is
really a matter of life and death during the winter. Participating churches and
volunteers really stepped up and did vital work for our most vulnerable
citizens; this year we need more of our churches to be involved so that no one
stretched too far. If we all to a little, we’ll all accomplish a lot” said
Kelly.
The October 9th
meeting agenda will cover what Code Blue is and is not, what a typical evening
at a warming facility looks like, resources for the homeless, Code Blue Safety
tips, the importance of volunteers, a brief review of program policies, and a
question and answer period.
While Code Blue is expected
to start in late November or December; a Code Blue is generally triggered when
temps are at 32 degrees with precipitation or 25 degrees without precipitation.
Anyone interested in
signing up as a Code Blue Volunteer can visit www.bridgetoncodeblue.com to fill
out a volunteer application or call the Office of the Mayor at (856) 455-3230
Ext 200
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To learn more about the City of Bridgeton please visit www.cityofbridgeton.com
To learn more about Code Blue, please contact
Rob Weinstein, Bethany Grace Church 1-855-818-3810