This winter season marks the 34th year of the Salvation Army's Winter Night Watch program, providing meals and clothes to keep hundreds of people warm. Right now, it's needed more than ever.
This winter season marks the 34th year of the Salvation Army's Winter Night Watch program, providing meals and clothes to keep hundreds of people warm. Right now, it's needed more than ever.
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This winter season marks the 34th year of the Salvation Army's Winter Night Watch program, providing meals and clothes to keep hundreds of people warm. Right now, it's needed more than ever.
Even though it's not snowing yet, organizations around the metro are concerned about the cold we're experiencing.
This winter season marks the 34th year of the Salvation Army's Winter Night Watch program, providing meals and clothes to keep hundreds of people warm. Right now, it's needed more than ever.
When the temps drop, not everyone has ways to stay warm.
"Makes cold winter nights a little bit more bearable for the homeless and near homeless in the streets of Omaha," said Todd Andrews with Salvation Army.
But the Salvation Army's Winter Night Watch program hopes to help, serving those who need it, five nights a week over the winter months.
"They'll load up our canteens or food trucks with hot meals and with warm winter clothing so everything from winter coats, scarves, hats, gloves, etc," Andrews said.
Andrews says they have a route that hits parts of south Omaha and another that hits midtown and downtown.
And this year, there have been lines.
"The demand has been unusually high so far. We're just about four weeks into this particular season. And we're already seeing such a high level of demand that we're nearly out of men's winter coats," Andrews said.
Andrews says they are in desperate need, especially for those large, extra large and even bigger sizes in coats.
That's not the only need. They also want people to be there to hand them out to those wanting a bit of warmth.
"This year we need a few more volunteers and people can do anything from drive canteens, to serve meals, to hand out coats out of the back of the canteen," Andrews said.
Although it hasn't been a bad winter, Andrews says the demand makes it seem like it has been. But no matter the reason for the need, they're here to help.
"The pandemic probably has something to do with that, economics almost certainly have something to do with that right now. We're here to serve. We're stepping up in order to make sure we serve all the needs that are there," Andrews said.
To donate winter coats, call (402)680-1859.
To volunteer, contact (402)-898-6000.
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