(All information on this page is tentative until it is finalized.)
In 2005, Fairfax Couty established the Hypothermia Prevention Program to provide warm, safe sleeping accommodations to people who are experiencing homelessness through the frigid winter months. This year, the program runs from December 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026, rotating between existingshelters and auxiliary programs at faith communities throughout Fairfax County. Each January, as part of the program, SJN hosts around 70 guests. This year, we will welcome guests beginning the evening of Sunday, January 18 through the morning of Sunday, January 25.
This is truly a corporal work of mercy mission and a meaningful way to be involved in our community. In addition to providing a warm, safe place to sleep, we provide meals, clothing, toiletries, and fellowship. Through the shelter, we have an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ, and we invite you to join us in providing comfort and peace to our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness this winter.
It is strongly suggested that people in vulnerable health groups do not volunteer on-site. It is recommended that on-site volunteers be vaccinated this season. Our guests and staff are screened for symptoms by the nonprofit (FACETS or Bailey’s) before they enter the site, however, guests are not required to be vaccinated. Nonprofit staff members are required to be vaccinated, and there will always be 4-6 non-profit staff members presend on our site.
General Volunteer Information
All volunteers mush be at least 18 years old.
Please sign up each volunteer individually, even if you are using the same email address.
Two telephone numbers are required in case we need to contact you at the last minute.
Once you sign up for a volunteer slot, you will receive a reminder from Sign-Up Genius both two weeks and two days prior to when you are scheduled. Sign-Up Genius sends confirmation at initial sign-up ONLY IF you request it at sign up. We recommend you do this to confirm your slot date and time.
We only use alternates if a volunteer signed up for a particular slot is unable to work, or we don’t have the required number of volunteers needed for a slot. In some cases, alternates will not know if they are needed until the last minute. If you sign up as an alternate, you are committing to be available for that time, so please avoid making other plans for that date and time. If we call at the last minute, it means someone is sick, and we really need to be able to count on you.
In the event you are sick, please email sjnhypo@gmail.com ASAP, and we will contact an alternate volunteer for your slot.
Volunteer Training
Anyone working on-site during our shelter’s open hours should plan to attend either our in-person training or the training via Zoom (ONLY if you have not previously volunteered for our Hypothermia Prevention Shelter).
In-person Training: Saturday, January 10, 2026, (time TBD) in Room A2/A3 at St. John Neumann (11900 Lawyers Road, Reston). This training includes a tour of our facility.
Zoom Training: Monday, January 12, 2026, 7 p.m. Please use this Zoom link.
If you miss both trainings, please contact Pam Dister at sjnhypo@gmail.com.
Additionally, here are two videos that are helpful for any possible accidental overdose scenarios where the simple administration of Narcan may be necessary. Narcan is stored with the AED units at St. John Neumann.
The weekend of January 3-4 baking pans with recipes and detailed instructions will be available on the hallway counters for our popular casserole drive to feed our guests during Hypothermia Shelter week.
Please follow instructions and return casseroles to SJN the weekend of January 17-18. Volunteers will be available at all Masses to receive your casseroles and store in the refrigerator/freezer.
Donate Supplies
The weekend of January 3-4, there will be a rolling board outside the Brown-McCarthy Auditorium with tags of needed food, clothing, and hygiene supplies for our guests. You can choose a tag and return the specific item to the hallway counter before January 11.
Please note that we do NOT collect USED clothing of any kind.
Donate Gift Cards
We collect $10 fast food restaurant gift cards for our guests. These allow our guests to eat during the day and have a warm place to spend some time out of the cold. Gift cards can be dropped off at the Parish Office Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or given to a volunteer at the Welcome Desk before or after any weekend Mass.
Financial Support
We are incredibly grateful for financial donations, which help defray the costs of bus passes and other necessary items that arise for individual guests.
Donations may be made online below, in-person at the Parish Office, or dropped into the Sunday collection basket with “Hypothermia” indicated on the check memo line or envelope.
Thank you so much for your support as we look forward to once again being the hands and feet of Christ in serving our neighbors and guest at our annual Hypothermia Prevention Shelter.
