Mark Lanan and Leslie Johnson at the shelter before the season of Code Blue cold. (Credit: North Penn Advocates)
What is most satisfying in your work with Code Blue?
Mark: I have been a dedicated volunteer at the Code Blue shelter and Trinity Lutheran Church for 16 years, where we train volunteers and prepare meals for those in need. Over the past decade, the demand for help has doubled. Since April 2024, the shelter has housed 86 men, twice as many as in 2021. The need is expected to rise further this season due to rising rents, evictions, job losses, medical issues, and lack of support. With the right assistance, many people can improve their lives and contribute to society. The community urgently needs support for these vital services. A shelter offers help and encouragement to those in need.
Leslie has been a dedicated volunteer for 12 years, skillfully tracking individual needs and offering a warm smile and acceptance. She manages donations, organizes community volunteers, and describes Code Blue as providing relief from the cold, socialization, meals, showers, and a safe place to sleep. Leslie views the unhoused as a supportive community where experienced individuals help newcomers with advice and assistance. While there are some with substance abuse issues or health needs, these are not the majority, and Code Blue can refer them to immediate help.
What are some roadblocks?
The Code Blue shelter is located in a beautiful old house that needs a lot of upkeep. Currently, only the first floor is usable, and there is just one bathroom. To accommodate more people, the second floor needs renovation. There are no available beds nearby, so many unhoused individuals are now sleeping in their cars or in parks and woods.
The community gives generously with food, supplies and money, but we also need dedicated volunteers to keep the program running. It’s crucial for us to recognize and tackle this issue.
Who are the programs or organizations you consider as partners?
We rely on many organizations for support. We’re lucky to have a great police department and supportive staff. Local businesses help immensely without seeking recognition. Chef Chipper from AAA Catering provides a free nutritious breakfast for 60 or more people daily. Clemen’s Uniforms supplies bedding for the shelter, and Lansdale Tavern, Manna on Main Street, and Garden of Health are close partners. For emergency help, we turn to county resources like Your Way Home, Access Services, and Pottstown Shelter.
Blankets and bedding can be seen atop cots set up in the Lansdale Code Blue shelter for men adjacent to Trinity Lutheran Church in Dec. 2024.Tell me three ways a community member can help Code Blue reach its goals.
Volunteering: A community member can help by signing up to volunteer. Call, email us, or sign up online. To sign up to help or request further information, please send an e-mail to: [email protected].
Money and gift cards: Any size check or cash is helpful. Note on check that the donation is for Code Blue. Sudz and Transportation gift cards.
Donate clothes or food: See a detailed list under “donations” at https://trinitylansdale.com. Drop off at the lobby Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Needed are socks, hats, long johns, gloves, scarves/neck gaiters, coats, ponchos/umbrellas, and food.
How can volunteers help Code Blue during moderate temperatures?
Contact: [email protected] for more information. See above for donations.
Have you seen any positive growth from the volunteers or people using the shelter working with Code Blue? Do you have a particular success story to share?
Here’s a story about how the shelter helped someone named John (not his real name). John quit his job to care for his ill father, but after his father passed away, John’s sister sold the house, leaving him without a home. With no job or family support, John turned to the shelter for help. The shelter provided him with housing, counseling, and support. Within a year, John found a job, secured an apartment, and has not needed the shelter since.
Do you get any pushback? How do you counter it?
The shelter is located away from other homes, so it doesn’t disturb nearby neighborhoods. However, a nearby daycare center occasionally receives complaints from parents about people waiting outside the locked shelter.
The community is generally hesitant to offer direct support to those in need but often donates items or funds. Despite this, our facility offers a crucial and safe service to the community.
How does the Code Blue shelter benefit people who are not in need?
The service helps the community as a whole stay a viable, safe community. We like to say, wouldn’t you want someone to help you if you found yourself in a similar situation?
Submitted by North Penn Advocates, a group of local people who want to educate the North Penn Community on chronic issues of hunger, homelessness, and housing, and advocate for tangible solutions. Contact them at [email protected] or visit its Facebook page.
