With blustery temperatures in the forecast, an emergency shelter reopened on Thursday to meet the needs of the homeless population in Lehighton.

The Lehighton Cold Weather Station posted on its Facebook page the cold shelter at Ebenezer Church, 119 S. Third St., is open through Wednesday morning.

However, they are in need of volunteers to cover all the chaperoning shifts from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 a.m., as well as meals for each day.

Volunteers do not need experience, just compassion and a willingness to learn, according to the group.

“We will provide the training and support you need,” the Lehighton Cold Weather Station posted. “If we don’t have enough chaperons, we are not able to open the shelter so please consider stepping out of your comfort zone and trying a chaperoning shift.”

Those interested in volunteering may sign up to provide meals or chaperon at signupgenius.com.

Nancy Berchtold, officer of St. Vincent de Paul Society of SS. Peter & Paul in Lehighton, said the shelter was busy Thursday night.

“We had 11 guests overnight, and two come for breakfast,” Berchtold said. “We had a very good evening, quickly becoming family to each other.”

Berchtold said the shelter will be open for the foreseeable future with temperatures 25 degrees or lower at night.

The trend of the cold is going to continue for at least that long, according to Dan Pydynowski, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather.

Pydynowski said over the weekend, highs will only be in the upper 20s with windy conditions and real feel temps in the teens and single digits.

“It’s going to be a prolonged stretch of generally subfreezing (temperatures),” Pydynowski said. “A lot of times not even getting out of the 20s.”

Pydynowski cautioned anyone who needs to be outside for work to bundle up with hats, scarfs, and gloves, and dress in layers.

“Frost bite on unexposed skin, especially on your fingers, can occur very quickly,” he said. “If you’re going on a trip in a more isolated or rural area, you want to be sure you’ve got some blankets and other warm weather gear in the car.”

Berchtold praised the community for being so caring in terms of donations and meals, but stressed they still need more chaperons.

“We would love to be open 24/7, but we need more volunteers to offer this much-needed care,” she said.

Berchtold noted that St. Luke’s doctors are ready to set up a street medics clinic at SS. Peter and Paul Church — St. Vincent de Paul, and added their social services, drug and alcohol, mental health, and Career Link are all a great help.

Last month, the idea of a potential second emergency shelter, one that could allow for families with children, was discussed.

Berchtold said at that time they know of two families with three children and that each family is homeless and has nowhere to go.

The Lehighton Cold Weather Station opened its doors on Dec. 1 in the basement of the Ebenezer United Methodist Church at the corner of Third and South streets across from the Lehighton Police Station and Lehighton Fire Department.

The Lehighton Cold Weather Station is a coalition of churches under the support of St. Vincent de Paul Society of SS. Peter & Paul in Lehighton.

Berchtold said the basement of Ebenezer United Methodist Church is open at 6 p.m. for registration and dinner to the homeless when it’s 25 degrees or lower.

She said folks are allowed to stay until 9 a.m., “but our hope is that with enough volunteers, that we can extend that.”

Berchtold said they provide food, and added they just went mostly by volunteers and folks donating food items, but that they would love to have donations of nighttime meals.

She said their Facebook page is now Lehighton Cold Weather Station, where there is a sign-up for volunteers, as well as information on food and staying at the shelter.

Berchtold said they are seeking more volunteers and donations to offer costs for heating, and are grateful for any assistance that can be provided.

For more information, call 570-657-6738.