BUFFALO, N.Y. — There is a Code Blue 32 in effect Tuesday night in Buffalo and Erie County. That means there are some overnight shelters open for people to have a safe place to stay, and there is a warming center open on Christmas during the day.
But, one of the volunteers of Code Blue says the program is sometimes misunderstood.
"They know where they can come to be loved, cared for, and get a good meal," says Mike Taheri, associate missionary with St. Luke's Mission of Mercy.
Part of what Taheri does at St. Luke’s includes volunteering for Code Blue.
"I think it's the most challenging ministry you have probably in Western New York, and here's why. What you have are probably 30 to 40 people who are coming together on a night when it's 15 degrees or below, and some of them are mentally ill, some of them have drug addictions, and they're all put forth in this little community downstairs," says Taheri.
Under the direction of Code Blue coordinator Drew Bernstein, St. Luke's provides sleeping arrangements and two meals for anyone who shows up on a Code Blue night. This Christmas Eve there's a Code Blue 32, which is different from the traditional Code Blue night when it feels like 15 or below.
"If you have 40 people coming in in the winter out of the cold, we have to now pick up all of the tables and chairs where our dining hall feeds between four-hundred and five-hundred people a day, set up cots for 30 to 40 people," Taheri said. "Those cots have to have clean bedding, clean sheets, pillows. Think about the laundry. Every time you're picking that up, so we always need laundry detergent."
They also need oatmeal and cereal. But, another big need is even tougher to come by - volunteers. They take four-hour shifts starting at 8 p.m. and going through 8 in the morning when St. Luke's is set back up to feed up to 500 people a day.
"The beautiful mantra at St. Luke's is as say no to no one," Taheri said. "Everybody is welcome. Everybody comes to St. Luke's because it's a place where they can receive God's mercy and that's really what's needed right now especially for the holiday season."
There is a Code Blue Bash coming up in January, and it serves as a major fundraiser for the program.