“This is what our life looks like during inclement weather,” said Jack Bolden.
SAN ANTONIO — As temperatures remained dangerously cold throughout the day, those looking out for the most vulnerable in our community stayed busy.
The outreach team at Christian Assistance Ministry are making sure they get off the streets and into a warm place.
For CAM team members Jack Bolgren and Roger Arreleo, their day is non-stop.
“We’re going to Communities Under the Bridge right now, it looks like Corazon is going to fill up super quick,” said Bolgren.
Their day is spent riding around, looking for people in need of transportation and finding those unaware of the dangerously cold conditions about to hit the city.
For Bolgren, his mission of helping those most vulnerable is personal, having been a former resident at Haven for Hope to now Homeless Response Coordinator at CAM.
Helping people like Christopher Quituga, who has been homeless off and on since the age of 10. He says he is grateful to not to have to sleep on the streets tonight.
“It’s is beyond torture to be honest with you. Half the night we don’t get much sleep at all, cause it’s just way too cold, no matter how many blankets we do have,” said Quituga.
Patrick McGibben arrived to San Antonio on Christmas Eve and is also thankful for a warm place to sleep tonight, after the last artic blast.
“The night it was raining two weeks ago, people were dying here. I mean literally people died, like the ambulance came multiple times,” said McGibben.
Bolgren says it’s a fast paced day, with not a minute to spare.
“Corazon has let out from the day center, so that they can flip it for overnight shelter and so we just kind of want to make sure in this hour that everyone is getting taken care of and getting everything they need to stay warm,” said Bolgren.
And as shelters fill at the Corazon Harm Reduction Center, Bolgren and Arreleo’s mission continues.
“Were going to be transporting people, that are not able to stay in here to CUB, so that they can possibly stay in there,” said Bolgren.
CAM’s Outreach team is out till around 11 p.m. but if you know someone in need of assistance or transportation you can contact the city’s Homeless Hotline by calling 311.