Siena Heights is privileged to share and sponsor Share the Warmth three weeks every year. Share the Warmth is an ecumenical homeless shelter program open nightly in Adrian from Nov. 1 to April 1. It is housed at 217 W. Church St. The building belongs to the Salvation Army.  Each night is spilt into two shifts, and each shift has at least one male and one female volunteer. The first shift begins at 6:30 p.m. and goes until 11 p.m., and the second runs from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Tom Puszczewicz, the director of SHU’s Share the Warmth effort, has been involved 10 out of the 11 years that SHU has been part of Share the Warmth.

“Sister Pat Schnapp was hard to say no to,” said Puszczewicz of his initial involvement, and he’s been involved ever since. “It’s a relatively short-term commitment. We do a week while you are very engaged, and then take a break. People are receptive to volunteering. About 50 people each week are there helping. It blows my mind.”

When asked what his favorite memory of the program has been, he said “During (President Barack) Obama’s first inauguration, we were at the house volunteering. I was proud that as our government was changing leadership peacefully, we were doing something to take care of poor people. It was kind of like a day of hope for the nation.”

Brianna Frazer has been involved with Share the Warmth all four years at SHU. She has mostly done overnight shifts so she can spend time with her friends.

“I have done one day shift and that was my eye-opener,” she said. “Many of the people there have families and enjoy talking about them. The one man I talked to had a daughter graduating high school and he showed off her senior pictures.”

She said she has had several roles volunteering with the program.

“I also helped set up the new cots they got right before Christmas break,” Frazer said. “Dominican Young Adults has fundraised and made blankets for Share the Warmth the past two years. We want to make sure that they feel comfortable and warm so we let them have the blankets as their own. It is a great thing they are at the Salvation Army, and it is an easy thing for students to get involved with.”

SHU students are strongly encouraged to get involved. Those interested, please contact  Puszczewicz in The Hub or at [email protected] or 264-7192.