COUNTYWIDE : Armory Gets Funds to Shelter Homeless
A group of community activists has raised enough money to keep the Oxnard National Guard armory open to shelter the homeless nightly through March 31.
Because of a lack of funds, the armory was to be open nightly only through Feb. 15, and then was to open only when it was cold or wet enough.
In response, said Brian Bolton, executive director of the Ventura County chapter of the Red Cross, the Community Challenge Campaign was formed.
The campaign asked local businesses to contribute $687 each--the cost to keep a shelter open for one night, Bolton said. About a dozen businesses responded.
Local residents were asked to contribute $13.11--the cost of accommodating one person for one night in the shelter.
About $30,000 was raised, Bolton said.
In addition, letters were sent to 682 churches throughout Ventura County, asking them to sponsor volunteers, who work from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. each day to help prepare and set up meals, Bolton said. “I’m extremely grateful for the tremendous outpouring from the community,” Bolton said.
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