HALO announces “Code Blue”

The shelter at HALO ministries has entered what they’re calling “Code Blue.”

Celeste Savage, the Executive Director of HALO Ministries says, “With this cold arctic air that’s been coming through, we’ve had to open our café to allow more men to be able to come in.”

Normally, HALO accommodates 95 people overnight because that’s what their facility can hold, 55 men and 40 women. But Tuesday night, the day after the major snow fall, HALO had 106 people under their roof. This forced the facility to put extra beds in its cafeteria.

However, Savage says they don’t mind the extra bodies. She says she’d much rather have a packed house, than the alternative, people sleeping outside.

Savage goes on, “They’re just not going to survive.”

The shelter has already dealt with one frightening experience this winter.

Savage replies, “We did have a situation with one of the homeless guys. In a heavy severe wind storm, one of the main branches fell on his tent. He was in it and had a few bones broken and was burned.”

Savage says the shelter won’t force anyone to come to them. However, she’s strongly advising that if you see someone outside who needs a place to stay, help them out, by showing them the way to HALO. Officials tell 47 ABC they will remain under the “Code Blue” until February 21.

With the high volume of occupants, HALO is running low on several items. They are in need of toilet paper, paper towels, sugar, cereal, cheese of any type, mayonnaise, salad dressing, peanut butter and jelly, tea bags and milk. If you want to donate non-food supplies you can drop them off at their donation center located at 701 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury, MD. For food donations, you can bring them to 119B South Boulevard, Salisbury, MD. For more information on donations visit their webpage here.