The prophet Isaiah declares, “Share your food with the hungry and provide the poor wanderer with shelter… then your light will break forth like the dawn…”

This is a “theme verse” of sorts for the Grace and Peace Winter Shelter here in St. Louis.  Earlier this year — back in early March — several volunteers from Cornerstone enjoyed preparing a meal for the shelter and meeting the guests who spent the night there that evening. 

Below is a description of the shelter’s ministry, from their web page…

The Grace and Peace Winter Shelter has been offering temporary, overnight shelter during the colder months to homeless women of St. Louis since 1986.

The Winter Shelter operates in the basement of Grace and Peace’s building in an urban area on the west side of the city. By the grace of God, many suburban churches have sent helping hands and meals. Neighboring churches and agencies have also sent help. As a result, the shelter ministry extends well beyond the boundaries of the congregation of Grace and Peace.

Many women have come back year after year to stay at Grace and Peace during the winter, citing the warm community there that they like to call home. Many have also “graduated” to apartments of their own.

The Winter Shelter receives no government funding, relying instead on volunteer helpers and meal providers as well as on donations to cover staff stipends and other expenses.