City Relief Trying To Help New Jerseyans Experiencing Homelessness Escape Bitter Cold Temperatures
NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- The bitter cold temperatures that have been slamming the Tri-State Area recently can be dangerous for people experiencing homelessness.
CBS2's Nick Caloway followed a group that's trying to get people indoors.
As the temperature goes down, the most vulnerable are covering up.
"Yep. Tonight is very cold," Fred Link said.
"Sooner or later, they're going to find somebody out here frozen to death," Gilberto Garcia said.
Friday night, outside Newark Penn Station, people in need came to get a hot meal, but soup is just the beginning.
BJ Neal is an outreach leader with City Relief.
"So that we have an opportunity to take our friends that are out here on the street, to give them food, to give them something to drink, to give them the resources that we bring. Whether it's socks, masks. Tonight we even have gloves and hats and things of that nature for people to keep warm," Neal said.
Because of the extreme cold, volunteers also gave out sleeping bags and blankets.
"Last night, I had nothing, so I was just basically walking around, trying to stay warm. But tonight, this will make a difference," Roselee Boynes said.
The sleeping bags and food are nice, but the goal is to get people experiencing homelessness off the streets for good.
So outreach teams offer counseling and help getting into housing or a shelter, or, on especially frigid nights, even a hotel.
"You know, no amount of bundling up is going to protect you from a cold like that. You need to be indoors," Neal said.
Spencer Holmsborg has been volunteering with City Relief for about a decade, helping those in need get the help they need.
"I've seen a man get a new wheelchair. You give a man soup and their face lights up. You listen to their story and you see the humanity in them. It really fills you with such grace," he said.
City Relief is handing out food in Newark every Friday night.
Friday night, they also were able to get two people out of the cold and into a hotel for the weekend.
If you'd like to help the organization, City Relief said they are always looking for volunteers and cash donations. For more information, visit cityrelief.org.
CBS2's Nick Caloway contributed to this report.
