By Avra Sullivan
With the recent cold spell, many of us are turning on the heat and breaking out warmer winter clothes. We may not be thinking about neighbors or residents who have no heat, warm clothing or a place to stay. Often dismissed as a big city issue, homelessness is present in Queen Anne’s County. Our Haven Shelter is a nonprofit cold weather shelter that helps provide overnight lodging to men, women and children from December through April. The shelter also provides food, assists with clothing, and offers support groups, Bible studies and emotional help for those dealing with homelessness.
Krista Pettit has been the Executive Director of the Queen Anne’s County Christian Assistance (QACCA), which founded Our Haven Shelter, for over 8 years. “I started this ministry because of the need to address housing issues in Queen Anne’s County. I called local Christian Churches for help…many of them supplying volunteers. And, the shelter and its services have grown ever since.” There currently are ten churches involved with the work of Our Haven Shelter, each providing volunteers, supplies and general support to the work of QACCA.
The shelter is located in the fellowship hall of Kent Island United Methodist Church in Chester and is open to anyone needing a place to stay. Volunteers at the shelter assist with check-in, socialize with guests, serve meals and lead support groups and Bible studies. All guests have access to a leisure area that includes games, books and TV. Upon leaving, guests are provided with toiletries and a bagged lunch.
Volunteers remain on site throughout the night and handle all the duties of the shelter from laundry to meal preparation to cleaning the facility. Krista says since establishing QACCA she “has seen people receive the help they need to provide for themselves and for their families in times of crisis. Through this help, I have seen lives transformed and changed for the better.”
Many volunteers are needed for the shelter. Anyone who can help cook or wash or help with sign-in shifts is encouraged to contact Krista Pettit at 410-739-4363. Donations are welcome and can be sent to QACCA, P.O. Box 44, Chester, MD 21619 or can be made online through their website at www.qacca.org.
Our Haven Shelter will be the raffle beneficiary of The Shore Update’s Christmas By The Bay event December 6th at the Kent Island Yacht Club. Great prizes will be up for grabs as well as fantastic food, local artisans and kids’ activities.