Cold Weather Shelter Plans for 2025-2026 at St. Pauls

Author:
November 11, 2025

November 11, 2025

Beloveds,

Each winter, St. Paul’s Cathedral opens wide its doors to serve our downtown neighbors through the coldest and most challenging months of the year. For many seasons, our Cathedral community has faithfully offered warmth, food, and compassion as part of Oklahoma City’s coordinated Cold Weather Contingency Plan. We have operated in the past as an overnight shelter, and as the needs of our community have changed, we are shifting our approach as well.

Every year, we gather with our partners across the city to discern where the greatest needs are and how we can best serve within that network. After careful conversation and collaboration, this year we have been asked to provide daytime shelter—a vital space of safety and rest—Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., from December 15, 2025, through March 31, 2026.

This new way of operating brings employees and security staff from City Care, who will continue working diligently to connect our guests with resources and ongoing support. Our responsibility is to do what we do best—to offer hospitality: warmth, welcome, and the steadfast reminder that every person who walks through our doors is beloved of God.

This model also allows the City Care Night Shelter, which operates 24/7 during the winter months, to continue offering the best possible care for our neighbors experiencing homelessness. Together with City Care, our ministries form a seamless circle of hospitality—providing rest, nourishment, and dignity both day and night.

We are seeking volunteers to serve during the midday shift from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., assisting with lunch preparation, serving, and clean-up. Each shift works best with a team of 4 to 10 people, making this an ideal opportunity to serve as a family, gather friends or coworkers, or invite neighbors to join you in meaningful service.

I want to name that this is a significant commitment for our Cathedral community—but it is also one that we can joyfully meet together. If each of us served just once during these twelve weeks, we would have more than enough hands and hearts to feed and care for our siblings in Christ. And don’t be afraid to get creative! Gather a group from work to serve lunch one day, bring your book club or your mah-jongg friends, or invite your Sunday School class to come one afternoon. Every act of hospitality matters, and every meal served is a reflection of God’s love.

Volunteer registration is coordinated exclusively through this SignUpGenius linkPlease take a moment to choose one or more days that fit your schedule.

With gratitude and hope,


The Very Reverend Katie Churchwell
15th Dean, St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral

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