Good Shepherd Center experiences a near capacity shelter during colder months

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — With the temperatures dropping below freezing in some places this week in our area, not everyone has a warm place to stay at night.  

WWAY spoke with one of the area shelters on Friday to see how it is faring, now that we have entered the colder months. 

Katrina Knight is the Executive Director of ‘Good Shepherd Center.’ She said it’s common for many shelters to be at or near capacity this time of year.  

“We don’t have that wiggle room any longer when the weather turns cold or severe and additional people want to come in,” Knight said. “So, that’s a real challenge right now because we feel relatively full every night of the year. Unfortunately, over recent months we’ve gone up to about 100 adults and children every night.”  

Knight said she and her team are working hard to make sure anyone in need of a warm place to stay has one.  

“We’re really stepping up our efforts to help people move to housing in order to free up space for that veteran, that senior, that family, that we might meet tomorrow,” Knight said. 

Knight said there are ways you can help during this busier-than-normal time of year.  

Supplies like toiletries and personal hygiene items are needed to help fill stockings and as always, canned and boxed food items are appreciated.  

“Guests who are here at this time of the year and going into the new year know that they are remembered and cared about even by people who haven’t met them,” Knight said. 

‘Good Shepherd Center’ is on Martin St. in Wilmington, if you wish to donate items.