By Amy Hensel
ahensel@cherryroad.com

The shelter needs volunteers. There are many ways to help

Lydia’s Gate is a shelter in Mio which provides emergency shelter to women and children, up to age 16, who are homeless and have no other resources. In April, the board of directors for the shelter announced that it was closing for awhile to take care of some housekeeping. Chris Grove, the new director, has an update to share with the community.

“We’re only temporarily closed. Right now, our goal is to reopen in August, probably towards the end of August,” Grove said. “We’re temporarily closed so we could work on the house. There was a lot to do and none of it could be done when there were guests in the house, so we decided to close down.”

Having many hands to share in the work makes a lighter load for all. Lydia’s Gate can’t operate without the help of volunteers, and all sorts of skills are needed.

The shelter needs help fixing up the house. “We have projects we need to do before we can open and we’re looking for volunteers to help us get those done,” Grove said. “We still need to get an upstairs bedroom painted and the office needs to be painted. We need our deck stained. We have a playset that was got through a grant that needs to be put together. We have new beds that need to be put together.”

Lydia’s Gate is planning ahead for a larger project – cupboards and countertops for the heart of the house. “One major thing that we are looking towards, that I am trying to get grants or donations for, is to redo our kitchen,” Grove said. “Our kitchen cupboards are in bad shape. That’s our next big project.

If you have are good at planning and organizing, Lydia’s Gate has an outlet for your talent.

“We’re also looking for members for a fundraising committee,” Grove said. “Lydia’s Gate relies on donations and fundraisers and some grants. We really have to beef up our fundraising. Finding a committee to take it over is top priority.”

The 2024 Spring Auction, the major fundraiser for Lydia’s Gate, was postponed. “We are still going to do an auction,” Grove said. “The auction will be back but there is not a set date.”

The shelter has a year-round fundraiser; if you dislike the task of returning deposit bottles and cans to the store, consider donating them to Lydia’s Gate. “The can house is a big fundraiser for us,” Grove said. “The can house is here now. It used to be at the Sheriff’s Office.”

Lydia’s Gate needs office volunteers to work short shifts. The shelter office is open 9 a.m.-4 -p.m. Monday through Friday. Gatekeepers, who are paid a stipend, stay overnight with the guests. “We close at 4 p.m.,” Grove said. “That’s when we have gatekeepers come in and they’re here until 9 a.m. the next morning.”

Lydia’s Gate provides help for those with no other resources. It is an important resource in the community. The sooner it gets the help it needs, the sooner it will open to help others. For more information, call 989-826-5588.

“We want people to know we’re still here,” Grove said. “We’re alive and kicking.”