REHOBOTH BEACH, DE -- As the cold and frigid temperatures grip the region, a beacon of warmth and compassion has emerged in the form of the first women's shelter in the Cape region, courtesy of Code Purple and The Lutheran Church of our Savior in Rehoboth Beach.
Michael Agnew, site coordinator for St. Jude Code Purple men's shelter in Lewes says the initiative is the result of many "miracles". He says the idea came after several people in the area inquired about the women's homeless community and a safe haven for them to seek refuge from the cold.
Donna Egolf, an elder at The Lutheran Church of Our Savior, says when she heard Code Purple was looking for a location to kickstart the program, she knew the Rehoboth Beach church was the right place.
"We're here to serve," says Egolf. "That's what we do. We're here to serve Christ, and this is the biggest way we can do that. Well, one of the ways we can do that."
Egolf reached out to Agnew and says the rest was history. The women's shelter officially opened its doors on December 8th.
"What we have here is an opportunity to get people out of the cold," says Agnew. "Just bringing them out of the cold and putting them in a safe environment."
The safe environment includes a hot meal served at St. Jude The Apostle Church in Lewes, followed by a bus ride to The Lutheran Church of Our Savior. There, women have access to showers before settling down for the night on provided cots. Code Purple ensures they have bedding, clothing, snacks, and drinks, but most importantly, they provide love and support.
"That's what we're trying to do," says Agnew. "Give them that hope again. Give them that self-worth and self-esteem in a way that benefits them. That gives them the energy to get up the next day."
The women's shelter and all Code Purple shelters are open through March 15th. Each shelter can have a maximum capacity of 14 guests per night.
Volunteers are a crucial part of the shelter. Agnew says more than half of the volunteer positions are filled, but there is always a need more.
You can find more information regarding volunteering here.
