A Port Moody minister is reaching out to the community for support — and a helping hand to make homeless people welcome in his church.

Rev. Tim Lissimore needs dozens of volunteers to prepare mats, help with food and cleaning up St. Andrew’s United Church (2318 St. Johns St.) if a cold weather mat program gets approved for Feb. 15 to March 8.

“We are looking for as many volunteers as we can get,” Lissimore said. His church has the heat and the space but its small congregation needs to be fleshed out with willing volunteers from other churches, businesses and neighbours.

A set-up crew of three to five people will be needed from 9:30 to 11 p.m. each night and another five to seven people are required to serve breakfast, hand out lunch bags and clean up in the morning.

Food donations are also welcome, Lissimore said.

A public hearing is set for Jan. 22 in Port Moody council chambers for people to comment on a rezoning application that, if approved, will allow the church to host the temporary shelter.

He hopes people will come out to the meeting in support of the project once they see how the well the shelters have been running in other cities under the management of the Hope For Freedom Society (HFFS).

HFSS managing director Rob Thiessen said there have been few problems since the shelters opened up first in Port Coquitlam and now at Coquitlam Alliance Church in Coquitlam, and Coquitlam RCMP confirmed there have been no incidents requiring significant police resources.

Thiessen said his staff found and confiscated a container of alcohol and drug paraphernalia, stopped some arguments in the shelter and turned away a few walk-ups but have otherwise have had a smooth ride since the shelters opened Dec. 1.

Seven of the 60 different people who slept at the shelter found more permanent shelter, either because they got jobs or got a bed at a long-term recovery facility.

“That’s a direct result of the shelter,” said Thiessen.

In six weeks, 408 mats were provided, 358 for men and 50 for women, although several of the clients were repeat visitors.

• To help with the Port Moody shelter, contact Andrea Corrigan through St. Andrew’s at cwwmat@sauc.ca.

dstrandberg@tricitynews.com