The annual Hypothermia Prevention Shelter at SJN is a coordination with our faith partners–St. Thomas à Becket, St. Mark, and St. Mary of Sorrows Catholic Churchs and Congregation Beth Emeth–to support Fairfax County’s Hypothermia Prevention Response Program. Our shelter is facilitated by two non-profit organizations: FACETS and New Hope Housing (Bailey’s).

Since 2005, Fairfax County’s Hypothermia Prevention Response Program has provided safe, warm sleeping accomodations during the winter months to people who are experiencing homelessness. The program runs from December 1st, 2023 through March 31, 2024, rotating between existing shelters and auxiliary programs at faith communities throughout Fairfax County. Each January, as part of the program, SJN hosts around 70 guests for one week.

Important policies and information:

Age requirement: All volunteers must be 18 years or older.

Health Requirements: Volunteers are recommended to be fully vaccinated this season. The non-profit staff are required to be vaccinated, but our guests are not required to be vaccinated or regularly test. Masking is required for all volunteers. Guests will not be masked while eating an sleeping. Volunteers can choose to sit with guests during meals, but it is not a requirement. There is no contact with guests during sleeping hours. It is strongly suggested that people in vulnerable health groups do not volunteer on-site.

Please sign up for each volunteer slot individually.

Both a home AND work or cell phone number are required in case we need to contact you at the last minute.

Confirmation: Once you sign up for a volunteer slot, you will receive one reminder from Sign-Up Genius two weeks before your volunteer slot, and another two days before your volunteer slot is scheduled.  Sign-Up Genius will send you an email confirming your volunteer slot only if you request it when you sign up. We recommend requesting one to confirm your slot.

Alternates: We will not be use alternates unless a volunteer signed up for a particular slot is unable to work, or if we do not have the required number of volunteers signed up.  In some cases, alternates will not know if they are needed until the last minute. If you sign up as an alternate, you are committed to be available for that time; please avoid making other plans; if we call you 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, and we will contact an alternate volunteer.

Other Ways to Support:

Donate Casseroles: The weekend of December 30-31, baking pans with recipes and instructions for our popular casserole drive will be available on our hallway counters. Please follow the instructions and return casseroles the weekend of January 13-14.

Donate Supplies: The weekend of December 30-31, there will be a board outside the Brown-McCarthy Auditorium with tags for needed food, clothing, and hygiene supplies. Choose a tag and please return the specific item before January 9. 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 brought to the Parish Office or given to a volunteer at the Welcome Desk before or after weekend Masses.

Monetary Donations: We are incredibly grateful for financial donations, which help defray the costs of bus passes and other necessary items individual guests might need. You may donate online below or donate in the offering or at the Parish Office with “Hypothermia” noted on the memo line.