Winter is coming.

Two Strasburg churches are combining with Tenfold to help the homeless during the especially dangerous time.

Through October, Wesley United Methodist Church (UMC) and West Willow UMC are collecting money to purchase sleeping bags. The Strasburg Seniors are also contributing. Jennifer Gehman, Tenfold's director of supportive housing, stated, "Tenfold outreach workers canvas Lancaster city and county to find people who are unsheltered, offering support to connect them with services and providing life-sustaining supplies. These efforts are made possible through community partnerships and generous donations."

In addition to sleeping bags, Tenfold is seeking donations of throw-style fleece blankets, warm pants, zip-up hoodies, warm work-style gloves, socks, hand and feet warmers, and deodorant.

For more information, go to https://wearetenfold.org. Contribute by clicking on the "Donate" tab on the top right corner of the homepage.

Wesley and West Willow are sister churches that share the same pastor, Bob Garvey. Wesley congregant Kay Graybill made Tenfold's efforts the church's mission of the month. Wanda Albright is leading the effort to collect money from members of the Wesley congregation, and Esther Ruth is doing the same at West Willow. Call Garvey at 717-572-8440 for more information or to make a donation through the churches.

"Tenfold had reached out to us and saying that they were in desperate need of sleeping bags," Albright said. "This is important, and (the money) stays home. The need is right here in Lancaster. We did this last year for the first time, and it was just a rewarding. Kay and I took them in to Tenfold, and they were just about out of all the sleeping bags that they had, and we took like 20 in last year. I have a goal of more than 20 this year."

Graybill added, "It's a real simple thing that somebody can do, but it has a real lasting impact. A couple months ago, a group of us went in (to Tenfold) to organize and help them with some projects that they had. When we were organizing the garage where they normally keep the sleeping bags, I noticed that there was one left, so I knew the need was coming."

Albright wants church members to see how their donations will help. "One thing that I think that makes this special to help instead of just saying, 'Give us your money. I want sleeping bags,' we have one on display in the sanctuary," she said. "We hold it up, and people are actually seeing that this is what your money is going to. You are buying this for somebody that is really in need, whereas you have a home, you don't have to worry about keeping warm."

Graybill pointed out that there will always be a need. "The sleeping bags get wet, they get moldy if it's a snowy time," she said. "Even though you think now 20 people are set for all winter, they have a big turnover so that they use a lot of sleeping bags throughout the winter, so it's even more important to donate through the winter and summer."

Gehman said Tenfold is grateful for the public's assistance. "We do everything from helping individuals who are unsheltered to helping people buy homes, and we have a lending department to help build more housing," she said. "We could not do what we do without support from the community."

Gehman emphasized the importance of collecting survival items for the homeless. "Sleeping bags can make a difference in keeping people alive in certain circumstances," she said.