Cold Weather Shelter: Feb 9-15, 2026

❄️ Cold Weather Shelter is February 9-15!

The Howard County Cold Weather Shelter (CWS) is a collaborative effort between Grassroots Crisis Intervention, local faith communities, and the Howard County Government to provide emergency housing and services from November through March. The shelter is located at the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, 6700 Freetown Road, Columbia. Our church is signed up to provide meals — continental breakfast, hot lunch, and hot dinner — for shelter guests during the week of February 9–15, 2026.

What’s New This Year

Last year marked the first time the shelter operated from the Grassroots facility. While it was a success, it was also a learning experience. Several improvements have been made to better serve guests, volunteers, and staff.

One change for this year is that Grassroots received funds to expand the CWS for 2025-26. There will be 88 beds (CWS + long term guests) this year (the number was 75 last year.) However, they are asking for a lower number of meals:

Weekday Breakfast for 30 people	Sat or Sun. Breakfast for 30 people
Weekday Lunch for 50 people	Sat or Sun. Lunch for 60 people
Weekday Dinner for 60 people	Sat or Sun. Dinner for 60 people

Last year the Grassroots kitchen managers realized there was an over abundance of food and feel that these numbers will cover their needs.

The CWS meal times have not changed. They are: Breakfast 5:00–7:30am, Lunch 12:30-1:30pm, and Dinner 5:00-6:30 pm. However, the times that the meals need to be dropped off have changed to:  Breakfast the day before, Lunch by 10:00am, and Dinner by 2:00pm. There is a limited amount of space to store the meals, but bringing any meal the night before also works well.

Along with preparing the meals, Grassroots would also like volunteers to help serve all meals. There is room for three Servers who will need to arrive 15 minutes before the mealtime. One change is that Greeters will no longer be a part of the congregation's CWS responsibilities.  While Grassroots still needs volunteers to help with greeting, they are asking for people who can make a 3-month commitment.  There is a more extensive background check for greeters and a short training that is needed.

Volunteer Signups

Questions? Contact the Church Office.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Will you serve the meal I drop off the same day?

We try to make this happen, however there may be times that this just doesn’t work due to many reasons (not enough time to heat food to temp, the need to use food we have so as not to waste it, etc.)

2. Can I take any food back if it is not eaten?

No, the Health Department does not allow leftovers to be taken off the property. Please know that the kitchen will use the food for another meal.

3.  What type of requirements are there to be a food server for the CWS?

No forms are needed if you are just dropping off food.  

Food servers will need to fill out a confidentiality form and will have to pass a sexual offender background check (not needed if you did one last year.)  Also, servers need to have had a recent flu vaccine or wear a mask, pull long hair up and wear a cap, wash their hands, and wear gloves. (Hair hats and gloves will be provided.)  More information about the confidentiality form and background check will be provided in January.

4. Who can help serve?

Anyone 15+ years old that has signed a confidentiality agreement and had a sex offender check done through Grassroots.

5. Is there a dress code?

No shorts, open toe shoes, leggings, or crop tops are allowed.

6. I don’t really cook. Is there another way I can help with the CWS?

One new job Grassroots has created is Prep Helper.  This job includes helping prepare lunch or dinner by setting up the line, assisting in preparing the meal (chopping, making salad, wrapping, etc.). The kitchen will do all the heating and cooking.  

The times needed are:

10:00am – 12:00pm for lunch

2:00pm – 4:30pm for dinner

7. Are there any ways we could be more involved with the CWS residents?

You may reserve the dining room for an evening after dinner and host a family-friendly game night (bingo, Uno, board games), or a craft, or anything we both agree is appropriate.  The time would be between 6:45pm – 8:00pm.

8. Can I take pictures of our volunteers working with the guests?

No, due to the personal and confidential nature of the CWS program, no pictures with guests will be allowed.

9. How else can I support Grassroots outside of the CWS?

Grassroots is always in need of twin sized linens and blankets, towels, hygiene products, gas cards, gift cards for Lyft etc., Gift cards for groceries and personal supplies.  

Note: When giving any type of gift card, smaller values ($5, $10, $20) would be better than larger values.  (For example, if you would like to spend $100, three $20 cards and four $10 cards would work better than one $100 card.) 

Please know that any donation will be joyfully accepted and used to the best of the guests.