TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – Staff CherrySt. Mission They are preparing their shelters for what could be the busiest winter in a decade.

CherrySt. CEO Ann Ebbert, Cherry St. Shelters in the northern regions of the United States, including Mission, are often inundated with homeless populations seeking shelter each winter, he said.

“When it starts to get colder, it really causes individuals who might otherwise choose to live in their cars or live elsewhere to turn to Cherry Street to solve their housing needs,” Ebbert said.

According to Ebbert, the mission has seen an 11% increase in the number of people seeking shelter each year since the pandemic ended.

“There are nights when we reach full capacity for beds in our shelters,” Ebbert said.

There are 161 beds in the men’s shelter and 76 beds in the women’s shelter. Once these are filled, they start pulling out the cots for the night. CherrySt. Mission staff said they do not turn anyone away during a troubling time.

The shelters and the Life Revitalization Center survive on donations.

The shelter needs warm clothing, coats, hats and gloves. This list also includes hygiene products. Ebbert says travel-sized items are best because they’re easier to distribute.

“People who come to Cherry Street, especially if they’re coming because it’s cold, they’re really looking for a hot shower,” Ebbert said. “So shampoo, deodorant, any kind of toothbrush, toothpaste is always useful.”

As the holidays approach, the mission also needs food items like turkey and ham. The staff says they have most of what they need for Thanksgiving, but will be packing for Christmas meals from now on.

Cherry St. on Thanksgiving. The Mission hosts a variety of events and meals that the community can participate in. Morning, Cherry St. The 5K benefiting Mission begins with the Dave’s Running Shop Turkey Chase.

For lunch, a ‘restaurant-style’ Turkish holiday meal and dressing is served to those in the shelter, sponsored by Real Seafood Company.

A full holiday meal is provided by the mission in the evenings, which is open to the public. It will be held at the Life Revitalization Center at 1501 Monroe St. Dinner will be served at 17.00.

All meals are served by volunteers. To sign up to serve food, Click here.

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