URGENT UPDATE: WAVE Project, a vital nonprofit in Warren, Michigan, is racing against time to raise $68,000 in just 23 days to keep its winter shelter operational for hundreds experiencing homelessness. The organization, which has been a lifeline since 2018, is facing a critical funding shortage as winter approaches.
New reports confirm that the overnight shelter at Trinity Christian Community Center has provided over 6,300 stays last winter alone, offering warmth and hot meals to those in dire need. “There are literally hundreds of people in our communities, not just Wayne County but Macomb County and Oakland County, experiencing some form of homelessness,” said Todd Gordon, co-founder and executive director of WAVE Project.
The chilling reality is that many individuals have nowhere else to turn. As Sheila Chauvin, project manager for the Macomb County Winter Shelter, pointed out, “A lot of people don’t want to talk to them or be around them… what they need is somebody to give them a hug, to sit down and have dinner with them.”
As of now, WAVE Project is set to operate the shelter for 12 weeks starting at the end of December. However, without immediate financial support, the shelter may face severe operational limitations. “If we have $41,000, we’re going to operate for a month. We’re going to do it as best we can,” Gordon stressed, highlighting the dire consequences of insufficient funding.
The organization is calling on the community to pitch in, stating that every donation counts, whether it’s $10 or larger contributions. “It is very important to us and all the people in our community that are unhoused that they have somewhere to go,” Chauvin affirmed.
WAVE Project also provides essential services like mobile showers and clothing distribution for individuals in need. The deadline for donations is fast approaching, and the urgency could not be more critical for those relying on this essential service.
For those looking to help, donations can be made directly through the WAVE Project’s website, ensuring that the shelter can continue to provide warmth and a sense of community to those who need it most.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story, and consider supporting this urgent cause to help keep the shelter open during the cold winter months.
