When the Bethesda Center recently closed, our city lost about 100 shelter beds heading into the coldest months of the year. Knollwood now has the chance to live out our mission to “love and live like Jesus” by providing shelter to our most vulnerable neighbors.

Following the closing of Bethesda, The Dwelling moved quickly to coordinate with Knollwood and other congregations, leaving less than three weeks to prepare before opening on November 16.

Overnight only, 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM, November 16 through March 1, in the Community Room and Gym of the Wellness & Community Center. This is a temporary winter shelter, and as of now, there are no plans to continue beyond March 1.

Up to 20 adult men who are guests of The Dwelling and are screened downtown before coming to Knollwood.

The Dwelling transports guests from downtown each evening and back each morning. While on campus, guests are required to stay in the WCC with paid, trained monitors.

Every night, The Dwelling provides two paid and trained overnight monitors and a check-in staff person. Knollwood will also provide an arrival-time host each night to represent the church and show hospitality to our guests.

No. Guests leave by 6:00 AM, well before earliest arrivals at 8:00 AM. Preschool spaces are separate, and on the occasional rainy day when children play in the gym, it will be cleaned and reset first.

The Dwelling provides staff, dinner, cots, and storage. Knollwood provides the space, utilities, basic supplies, and our normal cleaning.

Initially, as we feel out healthy boundaries with this new ministry, the few evening activities that overlap will be rescheduled or moved elsewhere on campus.

The shelter runs without volunteers, but there’s room for everyone to contribute to this new ministry.

Provide Breakfast Bags for Guests

One way we hope to help is by providing non-perishable breakfast bags to guests as they leave each morning. Sign up, and you will be contacted as plans develop.

Serve Dinner

All dinners are provided and served by The Dwelling, but one optional way we can help is by coordinating volunteers to help serve the prepared meal. Sign up, and you will be contacted as plans develop.

Prepare Dinner

All dinners are provided and served by The Dwelling, however we are gauging interest in the congregation’s willingness to plan and prepare and serve one meal a week for guests. Sign up, and you will be contacted as plans develop.

Volunteer as a Knollwood Shelter Host

In this role, you will welcome paid staff and guests as they arrive, make sure operations run smoothly, and cultivate an atmosphere of readiness and hospitality. Training will be provided, frequency is up to you, and the time commitment will be approximately 6:00–8:30 PM on your preferred night.

Donate Supplies to The Dwelling

The Dwelling is providing everything we need to host the overflow shelter, but if you would like to donate supplies, you can do so via their Amazon Wishlist.

Donate to Knollwood

Giving to Knollwood to support this and other ministries is always welcome. You can give online via our Giving Page.

Email frontdesk@knollwood.org. For an urgent concern related to the shelter, please reach out to the Pastor on Call at (336) 283-5067.