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Warming shelter fills important needs

Posted at 11:21 PM, Dec 23, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-24 01:22:52-05
Pueblo Community Christmas Dinner

PUEBLO – Pueblo’s temporary warming shelter is attracting more folks in need, and the Pueblo Rescue Mission is working with other non-profits to brighten up their holidays,  all with the help of the community.

They’re all working together not just to give the 40 plus people inside a warm place to stay, but to make sure they have a warm meal on Christmas Day.

It’s been almost a year since Roy Luna became homeless. Though he has only been here in Pueblo three days, he’s grateful he found this warming shelter.

“It’s just, these people are incredible, security, everyone’s really cordial,” said Luna.

Though his journey hasn’t come without its struggles.

“I had my bag stolen, everything. The only thing i have is my ID,” he said.

But at least on Christmas Day, the one thing he will have is a Christmas dinner.

“I think it’s so critical that we have this meal because there is absolutely nothing else for them on Christmas Day,” said Kathy Cline, director of the Pueblo Rescue Mission.

It’s all thanks to the Pueblo Rescue Mission,  Everybody Counts and the Steel City Supporters, along with the Family Worship Center.

But especially the community, who provided all the donations necessary.

“The community has responded,” Cline said. “They don’t want anybody going hungry, they don’t want anyone sleeping on the street if they don’t wanna be.”

For a moment it seemed the dinner, a tradition dating back to 1986, was up in the air.

“There was a little bit of a fear that we might not be able to have that,” Cline added.

But that didn’t last long, and now volunteers are preparing to cook meals for 850 people.

“In spite of the struggles that we’ve seen as a community, getting the warming shelter going, the community has really stepped up,” said Coco Robinson, a volunteer coordinator with the Steel City Supporters and Everybody Matters.

“They care. Pueblo cares.”

And folks like Luna can see it first-hand.

“It demonstrates that there’s people that really care,” he said.

The Christmas Dinner is happening at the Family Worship Center on Christmas Day from noon to 2 p.m.

For folks who need rides, shuttles will be picking up at the old rescue mission on 4th street starting at 11 a.m.

Everyone is welcome to come out, though home-bound folks can request to have a meal delivered through Steel City Supporters.