Volunteers in Harrisburg brave the dangerous temps

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Volunteers braved dangerous conditions Monday to deliver hot meals to the homeless who refuse to come indoors to stay warm.

The city says there are about 500 homeless people living in the Harrisburg area.

Many are in shelters, but some don’t feel comfortable going there.

Volunteers braved dangerous conditions to prepare and serve a hot meal to those in need.

“Freezing! Freezing cold outside,” volunteer Aundrea Johnson said.

It’s an MLK Day tradition for the Boys and Girls Club of Harrisburg.

“We are here for giving back to the homeless, feeding those who are in need for Dr. Martin Luther King, for his dream today,” volunteer Donna Johnson said.

Each year organizers fill bags,pull meat, and stir soup.

They hand it out to Harrisburg’s homeless, sometimes too proud to seek shelter even in the coldest conditions.

“We try to make sure that we get to them. We take shifts, we take turns due to the weather. We don’t want everyone standing out there at one time,” Donna added.

And that means those volunteers must bundle up to make sure they too stay safe and don’t expose themselves to frostbite and hypothermia.

“Wearing big coats, scarves, gloves, hats. Just making sure we stay as warm as possible,” Aundrea said.

But for them, it’s all worth it.

“It teaches you to have an open mind and it teaches you that people are not as fortunate as you are. So, he as helpful as you can,” Aundrea added.

Since today is about giving, no matter the temperature.

“It’s not going to stop us from getting out there and helping those that need us,” Donna said.