SUSSEX COUNTY, Del.- Putting a roof over the heads of the homeless is Code Purple Sussex County’s goal but shelters do not run all by themselves.
While the organization is confident most shifts will be filled this winter, the overnight is a concern. Executive Director Nikki Gonzalez says there is a lot that is causing that hesitation.
"People are scared to spend the night with people that they you know don’t understand," Gonzalez said. "It’s a tiring kind of position volunteer position and right now with COVID people are scared of you know catching COVID."
Sussex County Habitat For Humanity is also looking for volunteers as numbers have gone down. There were three volunteers at a Laurel site Tuesday but the organization says that is not nearly enough and that in return slows down the completion of projects.
Habitat usually gets about ten volunteers per day at a site but says the total amount of volunteers has gone down by seventy percent since the start of the pandemic. Site Supervisor Matthew Waryga says the organization has to serve less people without the help.
"That really slows down our production process and then that means that we can’t build as many homes and we can’t serve as many families in the area," Waryga said.
Volunteer Services Manager Courtney Tull says there are many ways to get involved with Habitat other than building a home.
"We also have our ReStore on Route 9 which is in Lewes and they definitely need help with customer service and needing to bring in donations and arrange furniture," Tull said. "Then we also have all of our events. So we are looking to build up our events crew and people that can help set up for events and greet people and arrange different props."
The Blood Bank of Delmarva says there is still an urgent need for donors.
More lending hands are clearly needed to help some of Sussex County’s organizations fulfill their missions.
To volunteer with Code Purple, visit codepurplesussexcounty.com.
To volunteer with Sussex County Habitat For Humanity, visit sussexcountyhabitat.org.
To give blood through the Blood Bank of Delmarva, visit delmarvablood.org.