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As wintry weather arrived early last month and Catholic communities across the Albany Diocese turned their attention to collecting coats and staffing food pantries, an emergency shelter program that debuted at St. Peter's parish in Saratoga Springs opened for a second season.

This year, Code Blue Saratoga Springs found a new home at the Salvation Army on Woodlawn Avenue, but St. Peter's parishioners will still volunteer and serve on the program's steering committee, said Rev. Dominic Ingemie, former pastor and a retired priest of the Diocese.

"It meant a great deal to us at St. Peter's that we were able to, on extremely short notice, provide space," Father Ingemie said. "We were extremely privileged.

"We think it saved lives, because the impetus to start it was a lost life," he added. Last December, a 54-year-old woman was found dead after sleeping outside in frigid temperatures. Shortly afterward, prompted by Saratoga mayor Joanne Yepsen, community members gathered to take action.

Mary Gavin, a St. Peter's parishioner and Saratoga Central Catholic High School board member, recalled Father Ingemie raising his hand to volunteer the parish hall, which the school uses for events.

"I think it was the most Christian act that anyone in the room could have done," Ms. Gavin said. "St. Peter's gave this program the stepping stone it needed to get started."

There were only a few conflicts with school events. St. Peter's ended up providing shelter for 55 out of the 58 nights Code Blue was in operation. There were about a dozen guests most nights, with close to 20 some nights. The parish center had a dozen cots set up in a classroom and space for extra people in the main hall.

Restaurants and community members provided dinners; parishioners brought food, blankets and clothes.

"The parish became immediately engaged," Ms. Gavin said. "It was the embodiment" of a recent Gospel message about helping the least of one's brothers and sisters.

There were no conflicts between the two populations that shared the parish hall, she added: "Father Ingemie's leadership was just really stellar."

Still, the new site will give guests more amenities and time to stay for breakfast.

"Our facility lent itself very well," Father Ingemie explained, "but there were some things we didn't have, like showers."

Ms. Gavin said Spa Catholic students were proud their campus was involved in helping others, and they will structure service projects around helping the program.

"They recognize these Code Blue guests as their former neighbors," she said.

The program - a collaborative effort between the City of Saratoga, faith-based groups, nonprofits serving the homeless and community volunteers - had 928 overnight stays and 156 different volunteers last year. It serves all homeless individuals without restrictions or qualifications during periods of extreme winter weather between Nov. 15 and March 15.

For more information, see www.codebluesaratoga.org.[[In-content Ad]]

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