All Saints McAlester Warming Shelter

This is the fourth year that All Saints Episcopal Church in McAlester has offered a warming shelter to the community, and each year brings its own set of challenges and blessings. For the first time, this year they’ve opened their doors twice during freezing temperatures. In January 2024, the church provided shelter for an extended 10 days and 9 nights—its longest stretch yet.

The Rev. Janie Koch, Vicar of All Saints, reflected on how the idea came to life: “The first year we opened, I overheard a conversation in a coffee shop about the weather getting bad and whether there would be anywhere for vulnerable people to go. That sparked an idea. When the temperature dropped below freezing with precipitation, we impulsively opened the church. We scrambled for supplies and food. Now, after a few years, we’ve partnered with local organizations and restaurants to help share the load.”

All Saints McAlester is the only church in town that opens its doors to the housing insecure and those with inadequate shelter. While there are other organizations in town—such as a men’s shelter with limited capacity, a women’s shelter offering longer-term care, and a youth shelter—none provide immediate refuge during life-threatening cold snaps.

Mother Janie shared, “When we decide to open, we don’t always know what we will encounter. We made the decision to allow people to bring their pets. Often, people would rather stay out in the cold than leave their pets behind. So, we adapt to the need. Our Baptismal Covenant calls us to respect the dignity of every human being, and that’s what we try to do… with God’s help.”

This year, in partnership with Humanity918 and a local retailer, All Saints received a generous donation of 7,000 pounds of brand-new clothing—Cuddleduds, coats, socks, underwear—for men, women, and children. These items were distributed to five nursing facilities, schools, and anyone who came in to collect what they needed.