Volunteers Clean Up On Iowa Shelter Awareness Day

A large group of volunteers was on hand to help clean up the Crisis Intervention Shelter and Transitional Housing in Oskaloosa Sunday.

Iowa Shelter Awareness Day had a huge show of support when approximately 35 people were on hand at Crisis Intervention to clean up the shelter.

“Shelters are normally very short staffed, so it’s a difficult job.”Leslie Ruggles said of staffing, not only at Oskaloosa’s Crisis Intervention but many shelters around the area and county.

Crisis Intervention helps to house some homeless, we serve domestic violence.” Ruggles said of some of the services and help that the shelter provides in the community. “Women can come to this shelter and have a safe place to stay while they plan their future.” Ruggles continued.

There was a statement, “So happy to have college students here, especially guys.” The William Penn Track Team made up the majority of the volunteers, including the coach. Also among the volunteers were members of the community that also brought their children, to help teach them to give back, as a service project.

Not only was there some helpful volunteers on hand, but LDI out of New Sharon donated the 30 yard dumpster that was used in the clean up. They, LDI, are also disposing of the contents in the dumpster free of charge.

Crystal Sodak – Housing Services Coordinator says that Crisis Intervention serves about 150 a year in their shelter, with over 4000 shelter nights at that location and the transitional housing location provides nearly 3000 addition nights of stay.

Sodak says that the location, that was cleaned up on Sunday, provides 3 family units and 1 single unit. “We stay pretty busy.” said Sodak.

Currently Crisis Intervention has 10 to 15 volunteers, but with future budget cuts, the possibility of needing more help in the future is a distinct possibility. “We have a lot of support in our community, if we didn’t we would really be hurting.” Sodak said of the groups and people that have donated time and materials to the shelter this year, and past years too.