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By CRIS LEYKAUF Another described the staffat the of the shelter. One man wrote that
ON CHRISTMAS EVE, while most families are hanging shelter as compassionate and very in Terrace “you pay too much for too
stockings, others are just glad of having somewhere warmto helpful, “not like the Vancouver little,” and the city only offered bara

sleep,” Shelters.” He said, “they put a anddrugs. .

The Terrace Emergency Shelter stays open throughout human face on things”: and were However, he was happy with the
the holiday season, And usually there’s a full house for non-judgmental. - service he received at the shelter,
Christmas... Even though. some, people., were ...and. paid the atmosphere was, good,

“They're eally happy to” have a place to go,” hithuse de pressed about the prospect of find- giving ‘people the incentive to get
manager Janet Costain says of the people who uee the shelt- ing = they still were appreciative their own homes.
er during the holidays, “It’s cold out there.”

Most of the shelter’s clients are from out of town. With no
money and no friends and family near by to support them,
Christmas can be a lonely time.

So the staff tries to keep the shelter really homey at

(Tees 7 ©Christmas time. -
ce] ee - “It’s not like an institution here,” says Costain.
> Many shelters have dormitory style sleeping arrange-
Se. =. ff ments, The Terrace shelter has just seven beds, and is locat-
(a “Ged in a large old home on Hall 5t.
a Oy That means that everyone helps out with the cooking and
mt) (««s«@scleaning, just like they would if they were home for
’ be Christmas.
nye. we té«~* “Even though you're with a bunch of strangers you still
| | 4 - § have that routine,” says Costain.
i ms a With those: advantages, the shelter is fairly festive place
ae . @ at Christmas. Of course, some clients still get the blues, but a
a EN =6SSC*é<~*iRSC*‘CC stain: tells them that they could be in much more dire
hl a - ff straits.
—___—_—_—, On regular winter days, the shelter is open only from 5
i as § ~~ pam, till 9 a.m. But on Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1 the shelter is
ee) _. “"-@ open all day, meaning clients can sleep in.
"a The staff decorates the house for Christmas, and bakes a
Al i = ss good supply of Christmas cookies.
‘ae Then on Christmas eve, just like Santa, they wrap pres-
Be ile # ents and put them under the tree. ;
Ast : “t couldn't imagine not having a tree set up with presents
in 2 aa a =©6underneath,” says Costain. Usually staff waits till everyone
. is in bed, so the presents are a surprise in the morning.
he t Socks, gloves and toques are ‘popular gifts, as are bath
t se \ @f items for the women and toiletries.
can . : “I want everybody to get a present in the morning,” says
Ker & Costain.
i ye b Christmas dinner usually includes a turkey. But this year
‘: le # §«=. there’s some concern that there won't be a turkey. The oven
4 mf 4]. at the shelter. isn’t working properly — volunteers were bak- :
at 8 ing cookies at just 250 degrees Fahrenheit, since that was
af: 5 B - as hot as the oven would get.
a ' Costain says there’s no money in the shelter’s budget to
iy e --~ “9 . replace equipment that breaks down. .
é oa, —§ “Maybe we'll cook Christmas dinner in the microwave,” ‘ee
ton  § she says, laughing. — STOCKING THE PANTRY — House manager Janet Costain and volunteer
igs & Judging from comment sheets that shelter clients fill out, Mindy Jir make sure there will be plenty of cookies to hand out at Christmas at
Ave ; | the extra effort the staff makes is appreciated. the Terrace Emergency Shelter. The shelter usually has a full house at ;
if e : “In this day and age, it's a blessing to have people like Christmas, of people who've come here looking for work and don't have i
wy? y= you folks around,” wrote one man. enough money to travel back home for the holidays.
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