OSHKOSH, Wis. — For about half the year, the Day by Day Warming Shelter in Oshkosh opens its doors to those needing an escape from cold temperatures.
On Wednesday evenings, guests are likely greeted by volunteers Steven Juedes and Mary Jo Ryan. They help the guests settle in for the night.
“I retired 11 years ago, and I needed to do something to help the community. I thought this was a good choice. I had compassion for a lot of these people. They’re people just like you and me. They just have different circumstances,” said Juedes.
Ryan, a retired social worker, said a higher power brought her to the shelter.
“Truthfully, I really felt pushed by God. This is what he wanted me to do,” said Ryan.
The shelter is currently wrapping up season 12. Ryan joined in its second year.
“I was really nervous at first because I thought, okay, I’ll do what I’m comfortable with. I came into a volunteer session, and I wanted to do a meal. It was like, ‘oh no, meals are full.’ ‘Well, what’s open? Ah, shower monitor, oh,’” laughed Ryan. “I’m telling you, I felt very much like I was supposed to be doing this, so I stuck it out.”
Ryan and Juedes have been at the shelter longer than any full-time staff member.
“When I started volunteering with Steve, it just clicked,” explained Ryan.
Besides a meal and a warm place to sleep, guests can shower, have their clothes washed and even pick out warm clothing.
Over 1,200 volunteers combined for over 5,000 hours last year.
“Volunteers are the heart of our organization. They really help our staff get everything they need to get done, done. They provide a sense of dignity to our guests,” said Michele Weiler, Day by Day Warming Shelter volunteer coordinator.
The shelter brings 25 people out of the cold each night, and volunteers provide something else the guests appreciate.
“They really want to talk, just talk with you. Some of them are lonely,” said Juedes.
Ryan said it’s bittersweet to see familiar faces come back through the doors, but she also enjoys the conversations.
“I think everyone deserves to be talked to, everyone acknowledged. This could happen to any of us. One event, one big fail, one job loss. That’s huge,” said Ryan.
Last year, 620 people were turned away due to space limitations. In May, the shelter will move to a larger, modern building.
“The exciting part about it is that we’ll be open for our homeless community members 365 days a year. We will have a capacity of 50 people per night. Far fewer people will be turned away,” said Molly Yatso Butz, Day by Day executive director.
For those escaping the cold, the shelter offers a warm option thanks to people like Ryan and Juedes. They are the volunteers that make it all come together.