No Freeze Overflow Volunteer Training

Please join us for a No Freeze Program training course which is a requirement for anyone interested in volunteering for the overflow sleeping space in Dodd Hall this winter. Details on scheduling and commitment dates/times will be shared at this training. Advance registration is not required but would be helpful to know how many people to expect. You do not need to be a member of Mary Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church to attend the training or volunteer. It is open to everyone in the greater Milford community that wants to help. Please contact the church office at 203-874-1982 to RSVP. 

This winter has brought freezing temperatures earlier than usual, and our unsheltered neighbors—both adults and children—are facing dangerous conditions. While the Beth-El Center maintains a steadfast "No Freeze" policy, they are reaching their capacity, with up to 30 people having to spend their nights in chairs just to stay warm.

In response to this pressing need, Mary Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church and the Beth-El Center are joining forces with a sacred purpose: to ensure that no one in our community faces harsh weather conditions without shelter. Dodd Hall, which sits warm but empty at night, can serve as overflow space when Beth-El reaches capacity. This isn't about replacing Beth-El's vital services but about supplementing them when the need is greatest.

To make this vision a reality, we need your help. We're seeking volunteers from our church family and the broader Milford community to staff these overflow shelter nights. You'll receive specific training and will always be paired with an experienced volunteer. The only requirements are an open mind and an open heart—and a willingness to show God's love to those in desperate need.

This partnership will create a stronger safety net for our most vulnerable neighbors, ensuring that no one is turned away during extreme weather conditions. Each person who comes to us will have a proper cot and a warm, safe place to sleep. 

Now is the time to put real meaning behind our words. Together, we can demonstrate that when we say our doors are open, we truly mean it.

Read more about Beth El Center's No Freeze program here: https://bethelcenterct.org/website/publish/programs/index.php?No-Freeze-Shelter-5

Please call the church office at 203-874-1982 for any questions.