A number of local churches and human resource agencies are working together to host a program called Out of the Cold: Centre County (OTC). In January 2011 (on one of the coldest days of the year), 16 people were counted as being homeless in State College - living in tents, cars, laundry mats, the street, etc. In 2010 a man died from hypothermia as a result of homelessness. The OTC program was designed to literally bring people "out of the cold."

From November 21 to March 31 local churches  will be serving as emergency shelters (St. John's UCC, State College Presbyterian, the Mennonite Church and Calvary). Homeless people will be directed to these emergency shelters when Centre House (the local shelter) is full, which happens very often during winter months. Each night of OTC, residents will be given a cot, blanket and snack. Meals will be provided by churches on some nights.

Calvary is responsible to find two volunteers for every day in February (that is the month that Calvary is serving as the host site). You're welcome to just volunteer when Calvary is the host site; you're also welcome to serve as a volunteer at any of the local churches. Volunteers are required to stay overnight. Volunteers will need to arrive at 8:30pm and stay until 7am. Lights are out at 11pm and volunteers are welcome to sleep.

If interested in volunteering, please answer the following questions:

• Are you willing to serve as an overnight volunteer for this program?
• How often are you willing to volunteer (1/month, 1/week, etc.). If you want to volunteer weekly, is there a certain day you want to volunteer?
• Do you want to just volunteer at Calvary or are you willing to volunteer at any of the local churches?