Only night shelter affected by recent illness, despite electronic media reports

 

The shelter at the Ironton City Mission will reopen Monday, rejoining the myriad of services that are offered by the North Fifth Street gospel outreach.

The Rev. Jeff Cremeans, director of the City Mission, said volunteers within the church have stepped forward to handle the shelter duties during the illness of long-time shelter caretaker Paul Horner.

The shelter offers temporary accommodations to people who need a place to stay for the night but can’t afford to pay for a room in a motel, for instance.

“We’re really excited about getting back open,” Cremeans said.

Cremeans said he is eager to correct reports aired on some area television and radio stations that the entire mission had closed.

He said the mission had never closed — only the shelter had closed temporarily due to Horner’s illness. The rest of the programs offered by the mission, such as the clothing giveaways and the upcoming Thanksgiving Day dinner as well as the City Mission Church, were never affected by the shelter closing.

Cremeans said he is fortunate to have volunteers who are willing to give of their time to serve their fellow man and in so doing serve God.

The shelter will return to operation on its previous schedule.

The City Mission began operations in 1944. It includes the church, the shelter, an annual Thanksgiving dinner for the needy and elderly, a Christmas toy and food basket giveaway, a jail ministry, a nursing home ministry and a periodic clothing giveaway.

had closed.

He said the mission had never closed — only the shelter had closed temporarily due to Horner’s illness. The rest of the programs offered by the mission, such as the clothing giveaways and the upcoming Thanksgiving Day dinner as well as the City Mission Church, were never affected by the shelter closing.

Cremeans said he is fortunate to have volunteers who are willing to give of their time to serve their fellow man and in so doing serve God.

The shelter will return to operation on its previous schedule.

The City Mission began operations in 1944. It includes the church, the shelter, an annual Thanksgiving dinner for the needy and elderly, a Christmas toy and food basket giveaway, a jail ministry, a nursing home ministry and a periodic clothing giveaway.