On the job in Los Alamos Monday is Chaplain Joe Dudziak delivering five Sleeping Bag Packages for the homeless to Self Help, Inc., in Los Alamos. Photo by Jenn Bartram/ladailypost.com
COMMUNITY News:
Chaplain Joe Dudziak, a member of the Los Alamos County Chaplain Corps, International Fellowship of Chaplains (IFOC) and long-time advocate for the homeless, volunteers regularly helping the guests at Pete’s Place on Cerrillos Road in Santa Fe.
This winter, due to COVID-19, shelters have limited space for overnight sleeping. For example, last year Pete’s Place served dinner to more than 100 guests who then slept at the shelter. Because of the pandemic, only 30 people can sleep at this shelter at a time.
While a lot of the homeless are being placed in motels, many others must spend cold nights outside with little protection from the elements.
As a stopgap effort, Chaplain Joe’s Street Outreach is providing Sleeping Bag Packages to help prevent hypothermia in the homeless living out on the streets this winter season.
Here’s what a $50 donation can provide:
- a sleeping bag, rated to 0 degrees F;
- 2 extra-large heavy-duty trash bags (to keep dry);
- hand warmers;
- socks;
- granola bars; and
- bottle of water.
Chaplain Joe’s Street Outreach will be distributing these Sleeping Bag Packages in Los Alamos and the Santa Fe through Self Help, Inc.
Five Sleeping Bag Packages were delivered Monday to Self Help, Inc., in Los Alamos and by Wednesday one was already distributed to a person in need.
Chaplain Joe Dudziak said that 100 percent of the donations received go directly to the costs of items provided for the people living on the streets.
To donate to this effort, checks of any amount are greatly appreciated and can be made payable to:
Joe Dudziak
PO Box 4221
Santa Fe, NM 87502
Or for tax-deductible donations checks can be made to Self Help, Inc., specifying for the Sleeping Bag Packages and mailed to 2390 North Road, Los Alamos NM 87544.
Chaplain Joe’s Street Outreach is not affiliated with IFOC or Pete’s Place.
