Dover- Principal Shan Green of Central Middle School proudly presented opening remarks at the kickoff of the Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens (GACEC) Heart 2 Heart Hugs warm clothing drive. The annual drive, in its 9th year, collects new warm items for the children in Delaware who are homeless, under housed, or in foster care. This years campaign is an initiative to collect a broader range of warm items. New items such as sleeping bags, coats, hats, sweatshirts and gloves that will bring warmth to a child in need.

“As the weather gets colder and the holiday’s approach, it is important we remember to help Delawareans most in need.” Said Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long. “I’m proud to support he Heart 2 Heart Hugs campaign and its efforts to provide needed items to thousands of homeless and foster care children across the state.”

“Heart 2 Heart Hugs is a statewide drive that begins in November- with various organizations and companies throughout the state offering their time and resources to collect and deliver items to Delaware’s Nearly 5,000 children who are homeless, in foster care or under housed. Representative Harvey Kenton shared, “It was an honor and privilege to attend the Heart 2 Heart Hugs kickoff event today. Everyone deserves to have warm clothing and a hug. I encourage everyone to get involved…”

“Additionally, out of the nearly 5,000 children in Delaware who are homeless or in foster care, approximately one-third are children with disabilities,” explained Wendy Strauss, Director of GACEC which serves as the state advisory panel for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and its amendments. “We connect hearts and collect hugs for children who are underprivileged.”

Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen, who has been involved with the drive for many years, shared “Heart 2 Heart Hugs is a program that for 9 years has warmed not only the children in need but also the hearts of those who embrace this cause. It helps each of us, young and old, to live the Golden Rule. I heartily encourage everyone to become a part of something bigger… by helping others.”

The warm clothing drive will collect new items through February 10, 2018. Drop off points are located throughout the state and can be found on the GACEC website at www.gacec.delaware.gov. Interested parties may also contact GACEC offices (302) 739-4553 for additional information a bout drop offs or about becoming a partner.

Code Purple Continues in Delaware during Weekend of Dangerous Cold Temperatures, Wind Chills

NEW CASTLE – With temperatures dropping into the teens or single digits across the state and wind chills below zero throughout the weekend, Code Purple locations continue to remain open in all three counties for individuals who are homeless and in need of a place of refuge.

Organized and staffed by volunteers, Code Purple sites in Delaware typically are located at houses of worship and community shelters. The sites provide safe, warm and short-term housing and hot meals to individuals and families who are homeless. The activation of Code Purple varies, but it typically occurs when winter-weather conditions – low temperatures, low wind chills, strong winds or heavy snow – make it difficult for anyone to be outside for extended periods. Being outside during extreme cold brings the risk of frostbite or hypothermia for anyone who does not take proper precautions. During the coldest periods of the weekend, prolonged exposure could result in frostbite in less than 30 minutes.

Since Code Purple sites use volunteers to manage operations, the activation and implementation vary by county and site. To be connected to Code Purple resources, call Delaware 2-1-1, search for “Code Purple” on the Delaware 2-1-1 mobile app or on its website at www.delaware211.org and click on the Cord Purple button.

NEW CASTLE COUNTY

Wilmington: The lead agency for Code Purple in New Castle County is Friendship House, which operates two Code Purple winter sanctuary programs – one in Wilmington and the other in Newark through the Newark Empowerment Center. The Wilmington program is operated in collaboration with the Salvation Army and has been housing as many as 150 people nightly this week. Beside the Friendship/Salvation Army winter sanctuary program, the Sunday Breakfast Mission offers overnight shelter to both men and women.

The Salvation Army has extended Code Purple for tonight through Sunday night. Here is the schedule:

Friday
• 2:30-8:30 p.m. Friday: Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew, 720 N. Orange St. entrance, Wilmington (daytime sanctuary)
• 9 p.m. Friday-6 a.m. Saturday: Salvation Army, 400 N. Orange St. (men) and 104 W. Fifth St. (women), overnight shelter
Saturday
• 5:30 a.m.-11a.m.: First and Central Presbyterian Church, 1101 N. Market St. (11th Street entrance), Wilmington (daytime sanctuary)
• 2:30-8:30 p.m. Friday: Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew, 720 N. Orange St. entrance, Wilmington (daytime sanctuary)
• 9 p.m. Saturday-6 a.m. Sunday: Salvation Army, 400 N. Orange St. (men) and 104 W. Fifth St. (women), overnight shelter

Sunday
• 5:30 a.m.-8 a.m.: Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew, 720 N. Orange St. entrance, Wilmington (daytime sanctuary)
• 8-11 a.m. Trinity Episcopal Church, 11th and Adams streets, TRIAD Meeting Room (daytime sanctuary)
• 2:30-8:30 p.m. Friday: Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew, 720 N. Orange St. entrance, Wilmington (daytime sanctuary)
• 9 p.m. Sunday-6 a.m. Monday: Salvation Army, 400 N. Orange St. (men) and 104 W. Fifth St. (women), overnight shelter

Monday
• 5:30 a.m.-noon: Friendship House Men’s Center, 226 N. Walnut St., Third Street entrance (daytime sanctuary)
• 6:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.: Friendship House Women’s Center, 720 N. Orange St. (daytime sanctuary)

Newark: Friendship House will open its Code Purple sanctuary from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday through Sunday nights in church space provided by eight different Newark faith communities on a rotating basis. People who are homeless must register at the Newark Empowerment Center at 69 E. Main St. on Friday. The Newark shelter is already operating at capacity, serving 36 people a night, so any individuals who cannot be accommodated in Newark will be provided transportation to Wilmington.

KENT COUNTY

Code Purple is in effect through the morning of Feb. 21. The Code Purple status can be determined by calling 1-800-733-6816 to listen to a pre-recorded message, which is updated frequently, and will identify Code Purple sites that are open in Kent County. Please note that the transportation for men to Wyoming Church requires that all guests be at Dover Interfaith by 4:30 p.m., with the bus leaving at 5 p.m. Only one trip will be made so please spread the word about the time. The bus will return guests the following morning back to Interfaith. The schedule for Friday through Monday nights:

Friday
• Wyoming United Methodist Church, 216 Wyoming Mill Road, Dover, opens at 5 p.m. (men only)
• Dover Interfaith Mission, 684 Forest St., Dover (overflow for men)
• Centennial United Methodist Church, 44 E. Mount Vernon St., Smyrna, opens at 5 p.m. (men only)
• Milford Community Center, 105 N.E. Front St., Milford, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)
• Christ Church, 523 S. State St. Dover, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)
• Smyrna Wesleyan, 433 W. Commerce St., Smyrna, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)

Saturday
• Dover Presbyterian Church, 54 S. State St., Dover (entrance is on Reed Street), opens at 5 p.m. (men only)
• Dover Interfaith Mission, 684 Forest St., Dover (overflow for men)
• Centennial United Methodist Church, 44 E. Mount Vernon St., Smyrna, opens at 5 p.m. (men only)
• Milford Community Center, 105 N.E. Front St., Milford, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)
• Christ Church, 523 S. State St. Dover, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)
• Smyrna Wesleyan, 433 W. Commerce St., Smyrna, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)

Sunday
• Dover Presbyterian Church, 54 S. State St., Dover (entrance is on Reed Street), opens at 5 p.m. (men only)
• Dover Interfaith Mission, 684 Forest St., Dover (overflow for men)
• Centennial United Methodist Church, 44 E. Mount Vernon St., Smyrna, opens at 5 p.m. (men only)
• Milford Community Center, 105 N.E. Front St., Milford, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)
• Christ Church, 523 S. State St. Dover, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)
• Smyrna Wesleyan, 433 W. Commerce St., Smyrna, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)

Monday
• Dover Presbyterian Church, 54 S. State St., Dover (entrance is on Reed Street), opens at 5 p.m. (men only)
• Dover Interfaith Mission, 684 Forest St., Dover (overflow for men)
• Centennial United Methodist Church, 44 E. Mount Vernon St., Smyrna, opens at 5 p.m. (men only)
• Milford Community Center, 105 N.E. Front St., Milford, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)
• Calvary Baptist Church, Fulton and New streets, Dover, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)
• Smyrna Wesleyan, 433 W. Commerce St., Smyrna, opens at 5 p.m. (women and children)

Champions and strong supporters of Code Purple in Kent County include Rebecca Martin, Diane Kaskeski and Allan Angel. For questions, call 1-800-733-6816 or email codepurpledelaware@yahoo.com. Or visit the new website, www.codepurplekentcounty.com. Volunteers are needed. Please email codepurpledelaware@yahoo.com.

SUSSEX COUNTY
All Code Purple shelters in Sussex County will be open Friday through Sunday nights. Eastern Sussex operates cold-weather shelters that remain open until spring regardless of the temperature. For updates in Western Sussex, call the hotline at 302-519-0024 or email sussexcodepurple@gmail.com.

Western Sussex:
• St. Luke’s Parish House, 202 N. North St., Seaford (double-door entrance on King Street), opens at 7 p.m.
• Laurel Nazarene, 94 Walnut St., Laurel, opens at 7 p.m. (men only)
• Gateway Fellowship, 8110 Cannon Road, Bridgeville, opens at 8:30 p.m. (women and children only). Transportation will be provided from Pathway Shelter after dinner as needed.
• Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, 315 High St., Seaford, opens at 7 p.m.

Central Sussex: Milford Community Center, 105 N.E. Front St., Milford. Sanctuary for women and children only. This shelter is available to people in Kent or Sussex. Call 302-725-0770. Georgetown Presbyterian, 203 N. Bedford St., Georgetown. Call Pastor Mike at 302-344-1912 or leave a message at the church at 302-856-6842. Sanctuary is open for extreme weather, but you must call ahead because of limited availability.

Eastern Sussex: Shelters are open and will remain open until spring, regardless of the temperature. Immanuel Shelter, 37439 Oyster House Road, Rehoboth Beach. Open seven days from 4:30 p.m.-7:30 a.m. Serving men and women. Uses both Conley’s Chapel and Faith UMC Fellowship for Code Purple. Call to verify location at 1-888-634-9992. Soul Ministry, Bethany Beach. Sanctuary operates daily for men and women with support from Christian Community of Churches. 302-632-4289. Day Center: Rehoboth Community Resource Center (CRC) is open to people who are homeless during the day. 302-227-1340.

Many of the Code Purple sites across the state often need more volunteers, and more donations of money. In Kent and Sussex counties, the sites also need sleeping supplies and food. The list of needed items include: blankets, cots, sleeping bags, towels and wash cloths, hand wipes and sanitizers, feminine products, toothbrushes and toothpaste, disinfectant spray, hats, scarves, gloves, boots, long underwear, coats, hand or feet warmers, bottled water, pre-cooked or frozen meals, instant hot drinks, ready-to-eat food with easy-opening lids, and garbage bags.

“On these coldest days of the winter, we are grateful that Code Purple volunteers across our state are there to provide a warm place to stay, a hearty meal and a welcoming hand to people in need,” Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Rita Landgraf said. “If you see anyone without a place to go this weekend or at any time during the winter, we urge you to refer them to the nearest Code Purple location or to Delaware 2-1-1 to be connected to services.”

For more information, contact Jill Fredel, Director of Communications, (302) 255-9047 (office) or (302) 357-7498 (cell).

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

Wilmington – In his weekly message, Governor Markell discusses a statewide effort to end homelessness among veterans in Delaware by the end of 2015.

“As we pay tribute to the fallen, we must also recognize that one of the ways we honor their service is through our support for their comrades who return home,” said Governor Markell. “With collaboration between federal, state and local partners and the community, we will reach our goal to end homelessness among veterans in Delaware, taking another step toward ensuring our veterans have every opportunity to live full, healthy lives in our state – and that will keep Delaware moving forward.”

Every week, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form. The message is available on:

YouTube: https://youtu.be/vMQLKWcXv5M
Delaware.Gov: http://governor.delaware.gov/podcast_video.shtml
By email: Please contact our press team to subscribe to our press list
Facebook: www.facebook.com/governormarkell
Twitter: www.twitter.com/governormarkell

Transcript of the Governor’s Weekly Message Ending Veteran Homelessness in Delaware 

With temperatures across the state forecast to drop into the teens or lower tonight and Tuesday before gradually warming up Wednesday, Code Purple locations have been established in New Castle and Sussex counties to help people who are homeless find shelter.

In Delaware, centralized intake began today, meaning anyone experiencing a housing crisis in the state is urged to call 2-1-1. The operator will ask a few questions to determine if the individual or family would benefit from prevention services in the community or if they need to be assessed by a housing specialist.

To deal with the immediate cold-weather need, Code Purple locations have been established in New Castle and Sussex counties.

NEW CASTLE COUNTY

Wilmington

Friendship House has enacted Code Purple for today, Jan. 6, Tuesday, Jan. 7, and Wednesday, Jan. 8.  Volunteers provide soup and sandwiches. Friendship House provides hot beverages, paper and cleaning products. The shelter will be open each day from 2:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew, 720 N. Orange St.

For more information about Code Purple nights, call Bill Perkins at (302) 559-5716.

Salvation Army activates Code Purple when necessary. After 8:30 p.m., those at the sanctuary will go to the Salvation Army shelter, 400 N. Orange St. Men will be provided a cot set-up in the gymnasium and women will be provided accommodation in the women’s shelter. An evening snack and continental breakfast will be served before visitors leave the facility.

Newark

A coalition of 10 Newark faith communities offers emergency sanctuary from dusk to dawn (6 p.m.-6 a.m.). Eight local churches rotate in serving as the host site. Volunteers from local faith communities and community organizations support guests who are homeless in a church common room with access to bathrooms, a light evening meal, hot beverages and blankets.

Those in the Newark area who are in need of sanctuary from the cold weather are encouraged to call (302) 544-0165, and sign up for services with the Newark Empowerment Center. The center’s office hours are 1 p.m.-4 p.m. The host overnight sanctuary locations for the Newark Empowerment Center are:

Today (Jan. 6):  First Presbyterian Church, 292 W. Main St., Newark. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Tuesday (Jan. 7):  St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 701 S. College Ave., Newark. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Wednesday (Jan. 8): Newark United Methodist Church, 69 E. Main St., Newark. Doors open at 6 p.m.

SUSSEX COUNTY

Today, Jan. 6 through Sunday, Jan. 12: People in need of overnight sanctuary are encouraged to go to Epworth United Methodist Church, 19285 Holland Glade Road, Rehoboth Beach. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call Nan Ruhl, director of Immanuel Shelter, at (302) 604-2619.

KENT COUNTY

A Kent County Levy Court spokeswoman said Kent County has no designated Code Purple shelters at this time.

Nan Ruhl, director of Immanuel Shelter, said the overnight sanctuary at Epworth United Methodist Church in Rehoboth Beach would take in people who are homeless in Kent County or elsewhere who can get to the shelter.

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