The shelter, at its recent open day, was packed full of interested community members who celebrated with the many people who helped get the facility up and running.

They also mingled with the people the facility was established to help - the homeless.

Talk to people who stay in the shelter and you realise this local community facility is vital.

One homeless person just had a look of relief on his face and said since he had been at the shelter his health had improved and he had actually put on weight for the first time in years.

Another man said the shelter had given him a safe and warm place to stay and now he could focus his energies on getting a job.

With stories like these pretty much metres away from them it was no surprise that many people, including, Pastor Peter Dover, got emotional as they officially opened the shelter.

Pastor Dover from Salt Ministries along with 22 other churches and an army of volunteers pushed hard to get the 134 Kinghorne Street, Nowra shelter up and running.

“The support we have received from this community has been overwhelming,” Pastor Dover said.

He had a list of people to thank which included the staff Shoalhaven City Council, Shoalhaven Mayor Councillor Amanda Findley and all the councillors, all the churches, his team of volunteers and all the tradesmen.

“This is your shelter - thank you,” Pastor Dover said.

“I would like to thank the Shoalhaven community for their vital engagement with this project.

“This project has taught us that if we give the community a framework that they can grab a hold of than they will play their part.”

Pastor Peter said the work would continue.

“I walked into Colin Woods’ (Shoalhaven Council) office the other day and said ‘what is next? There is so much more to do and the community engagement is so supportive and so there is much we can do to help those who are vulnerable in our society,” he said.

“The community movement has shown us that love and companion is alive in the Shoalhaven, especially for those who have slipped through the cracks.”

The facility started taking in guests on July 2 and can accommodate up to 12 people.

A shelter hero was also acknowledged at the opening.

Nowra Christian School student Tyson Daley got to help cut the official opening ribbon.

The 11-year-old Tyson thought everyone needed pillows so the year five student saved up all his pocket money and bought the shelter some pillows.

Meanwhile, Cr Findlay said she was overwhelmed with emotion.

She said the depth of humanity shown by everyone who helped get the shelter open was what overwhelmed her.

“As Gordon Clark (Shoalhaven Council) rightly pointed out was when the project is right and when we all want to make a difference and we all join our hands together to make that difference and then really good things happen,” Cr Findlay said.

“So to the big-hearted Shoalhaven community - wow you are amazing.”

Keep the lights on

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Sponsor a meal

Help feed a shelter guest for one week for $50

Sponsor a bed

Provide accomodation for a shelter guest for one week for $70

Sponsor support care

Help the shelter pay for a guest’s support care for one week for $60

Donate to Safe Shelter Shoalhaven

BSB: 062 585

ACC: 10930951

Volunteering

Call 4426 6117 or email info@safeshelter.com.au to get more information about becoming a volunteer.