code purple shelters – 3B Brae's Brown Bags

Monday night after school I packed 26 Brae’s Brown Bags because my Mom told me there might be a code purple day with freezing temperatures this week. She ended up bringing them to the Calvary Baptist Church in Newark, DE on her lunch break as they said they would be able to use the bags. So now I’ve officially given out over 650 bags to people in the last six months! We calculated it all out yesterday. Plus, one of the outreach people at Calvary Baptist, his name is Mr. Parkins, he emailed my Mom and said the nicest thing.

Here’s a little bit from the email Mr. Parkins’ sent to my Mom:

I had told Pastor Bruce Martin about the Brown Bags and forwarded him your earlier email where you explain the origins. Last week Pastor Bruce preached a sermon titled “Storm Stories”. He talked about some storms in the Bible and how people responded. Then he talked how Braeden saw a need and took action. He read your email to the congregation. One of his points was that if a 10 year old sees a need and does something, shouldn’t we too. He had good words to say about you as parents. So please tell Braeden that he was “preached about”!!!!!!”

I thought you might like that, because I know it made me feel really special.

Code Purple/Blue (depending where you live) is declared any time the actual or wind-chill temperature is 20° or below.

Code Purple Shelter Calvary Baptist Church

Yesterday, I brought 34 bags to a Code Purple shelter in place in Newark, Delaware. The Calvary Baptist Church on East Delaware Avenue was open last night and will be open today due to the frigid temperatures.

I will collect information on local places who will be open for homeless people to take shelter. Please share this if you see anyone in need. Also if you would like information added to this post or changed please let me know.

Delaware

New Castle County

The Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew (SAM) open their space at 4:00 PM and close at 9:00 PM; that is when the Salvation Army opens and provides sleeping accommodations for the remainder of the night. SAM is located at 720 N. Orange St. in Wilmington, DE and volunteers provide soup and sandwiches.
On Code Purple nights in Newark, a coalition of 10 Newark faith communities offer emergency sanctuary from dusk to dawn. Eight local churches serve as the host site on a rotating basis. A team of volunteers from local faith communities and community organizations support guests who are homeless in a church common room with access to bathrooms, a light evening meal, hot beverages and blankets. Those in the Newark area who are in need of sanctuary from the cold weather are encouraged to call (302) 544-0165.
Friendship House in Newark is also a “Sanctuary In Time Of Need” you can call them (302) 652-8278.
- Wilmington – Old Asbury United Methodist Church, Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew (SAM)
- Newark – Newark United Methodist Church, Newark United Church of Christ, Calvary Baptist Church, Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Newark, First Presbyterian Church of Newark, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

Kent County

State health officials said a Kent County Levy Court spokeswoman reported that Kent County currently has no designated Code Purple shelters. Hopefully this will change.

Sussex County

People in need of overnight sanctuary are encouraged to go to Epworth United Methodist Church, 19285 Holland Glade Road, Rehoboth Beach. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call Nan Ruhl, director of Immanuel Shelter, at (302) 604-2619.

Maryland

Anne Arundel County

Arundel House of Hope – Winter Relief Emergency Shelter – Phone: (410) 863-4888

Cecil County

People in need of shelter can come to the Mary Randall Center on North Street in Elkton. Address: 401 North St. Elkton, MD 21921, Phone number: (410) 620-4701
Moore’s Chapel United Methodist Church, Address: 392 Blake Rd, Elkton, MD 21921, Phone Number: (410) 398-7245
Five Rivers Homes, 216 East Main Street, Elkton, MD – 21921

Howard County

Columbia, MD Homeless Shelters and homeless services. We provide homeless … Winter Relief for the Homeless Arundel House of Hope 410-863-4888

New Jersey

Atlantic County

Atlantic County Homeless Hotline (609) 345-5517
Egg Harbor Township Community Center, 5045 English Creek Ave., Egg Harbor Township, NJ – (609) 272-8179

Burlington County

After-Hours/Code Blue Emergency Shelter Hotline (856) 234-8888

Camden County

In Camden County, Union Organization for Social Service (UOSS), Camden County Homeless Hotline, (800) 331-7272
Walter Rand Transportation Ctr.,100 S. Broadway Camden – (856) 968-3880
Cherry Hill Township Community Center, 820 Mercer St. Cherry Hill, (856) 488-7800

Mercer County

Mercer County Homeless Hotline (609) 278-1481
The Rescue Mission at 72 Ewing St. and the Salvation Army at 575 E. State St. in Trenton a re conducting normal business operations.

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

Depending on where you are there are shelters in place. Local homelessness and poverty advocacy organization Project HOME operates a 24/7 Homeless Outreach Hotline. Call (215) 232-1984 for the Project HOME Homeless Outreach Hotline
In conjunction with community organization Broad Street Ministry, the Bethesda Project is another program that will be able to provide special services to homeless persons during extreme cold temperatures in the winter months. Address: 315 S. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 1831 Bainbridge Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146