Emergency Cold Shelters Open This Weekend

The Pinellas County cold night shelters for the homeless will be open on Saturday, Feb. 16 and Sunday, Feb. 17.

Temperatures are expected to dip into the 40's overnight this weekend in Gulfport. Winds may gust up to 23 mph Saturday evening and up to 22 Sunday night. For a complete look at the forecast in Gulfport check out the National Weather Service online. Gulfport no longer has a cold shelter, according to Pinellas County Officials. The Trinity Church of the Nazarene served as the only shelter in Gulfport and first opened in December 2010. Pinellas County Officials are telling guests to visit the nearest shelters in St. Petersburg. There are three shelters in St. Pete that will open at 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday nights. They will accept guests throughout the evening, and close the following morning at approximately 6 a.m. Shelter guests are …

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Gulfport Shelter Will Open Tonight For Homeless

Gulfport church will reopen its doors tonight to help area homeless stay warm.

Trinity Church of the Nazarene of Gulfport will reopen its doors tonight to area homeless citizens looking escape the harsh cold front that has plunged temperatures to near-freezing conditions. The church, located at 1000 55th St South, will offer shelter for up to 20 homeless adults at 6 p.m. The shelter will close the following morning at 6 a.m. The shelter is for both homeless men and women. Those seeking shelter will receive a hot meal for dinner, a warm and safe environment to sleep and a breakfast the following morning. Volunteers are welcome. The church also could use supplies such as paper products, sandwiches, coffee or blankets. Anyone wishing to volunteer or donate items may do so by contacting Cliff Smith at (727) 464-8448 or …

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Editor's Notes

Editor's Notes: Cold Shelter in Gulfport

This week I had the pleasure of meeting some very inspirational people in Gulfport, and I'm happy to say I've learned a lot about the community in a small amount of time ... I'm referring to the story "Homeless Guests Grateful for Gulfport Cold Shelter".

On Monday Dec. 27th I stopped by the Trinity Church of the Nazarene to visit with the cold shelter's coordinator Judy Ryan. She said the shelter was open Sunday night and seven homeless people stayed there. She then invited me to come back later in the evening to see how they run the shelter and visit with people who take refuge from the cold. I said I would think about it and let her know. I drove home to have dinner with my husband, and we talked about the possibility of staying at the shelter overnight or just going for a few hours. I settled on going back for a couple hours during dinner. I had no expectations and no idea if anyone would even talk to me. At 6pm that night I parked out front, walked past the small white board sign …

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Giving Back in Gulfport

Giving Back in Gulfport: Judy Ryan

Judy Ryan is our Volunteer of the Week. Ryan has been volunteering for 19 years and is the coordinator of Gulfport's only cold shelter.

Name: Judy Ryan D.O.B.: 12/06/1948 Hometown:  "I was born in Illinois and raised in Michigan. I moved to the St. Petersburg Area in 1974, and now I live in Gulfport." Title: Coordinator of Trinity Church of the Nazarene and Cold Shelter How long have you been volunteering? 19 Years What encouraged/inspired you to start volunteering? "It's the need, the need was there. It starts out with being a part of the church." What do you like about volunteering? "Partly because I know it's a help to the community, it's rewarding to see someone in need that you can help in some way." How often do you volunteer? "I would say I (put in) 20 to 30 hours at least. I volunteer for the Pregnancy Center and the cold shelter." What keeps you interested in …

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Homeless Guests Grateful for Gulfport Cold Shelter

A handful of guests spent Monday night at Gulfport's only cold shelter. Hear how the shelter is providing them comfort during the cold nights.

Record breaking lows in Southwest Florida no doubt caused many to turn up the heat and bundle up last night. That included thousands of homeless men and women who took refuge at area cold shelters. "I cried and I prayed all morning. All I have is God. I'm where I'm supposed to be," said 47-year-old Kenny Baker. Baker is one of eight homeless men who slept at Trinity Church of the Nazarene in Gulfport last night, the only cold shelter in South Pinellas County. On Sunday night Baker wrapped himself up inside a sleeping bag and slept next to a condemned house in Gulfport. "A Christian lady, one of my neighbors, she told me about this place," Baker said. And Baker told his friend 43-year-old Matthew Sara. Sara has been homeless for about three…

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