Carlisle C.A.R.E.S. ( C ombined A rea R esource for E mergency S helter) is a non-profit agency whose mission is to provide shelter to homeless individuals and families when no other shelter can be found.
Carlisle C.A.R.E.S. began as a ministry of Grace United Methodist Church. Staff members found men sleeping in the church courtyard with no where else to go. It wasn't long before church members realized there was a need for a homeless shelter in Carlisle.
C.A.R.E.S. was patterned after a collaboration of downtown Harrisburg churches which provides shelter to the homeless. In November of 2004, Grace UMC opened its doors to provide shelter every night for a month from 9pm to 7am. Other churches joined Grace on a rotational basis through March 2005. We averaged between five to seven shelter guests each night for a total of 45 guests the first season.
In 2009, C.A.R.E.S. gained independence from Grace UMC by becoming its own 501(c)3 nonprofit and a United Way member agency. With the help of a dozen local churches, C.A.R.E.S. has sheltered more than 1000 guests.
In January 2010, we opened our Resource Center, a "day program" designed to facilitate the transition from homelessness to permanent, stable housing.
Interested in helping out! Volunteers are need for various positions, from sleeping at the shelter overnight to answering phones at the resource center, we need you! Visit the volunteer page to learn more.
Emergency Overnight Shelter for Homeless Adults
Our Emergency Overnight Shelter Program provides overnight accommodations for individuals in participating churches in the Carlisle area. To be eligible for the emergency Overnight Shelter Program individuals must: be 18 years old or older; show a photo I.D.; and present a current N.C.I.C. (National Crime Investagation Certificate) [obtainable from the Carlisle Borough Police Station] on the first visit. Shelter capacities vary from church to church. Our shelter is a first come, first served. All individuals must report to the C.A.R.E.S. Resource Center, at 50 W. Penn St, by 8:30 PM, with photo I.D., to obtain a shelter number permitting them to enter the overnight shelter between the hours of 9:00 and 10:00 PM. Criminal sexual offenders who appear on the Megan's Law list are not admitted to the Emergency Overnight Shelter Program.
Grace United Methodist Church,
Carlisle, PA
Emergency Shelter for Homeless Families
This service is for families with children 17 years of age or younger, who find themselves in a homeless situation. When all of the area shelters for families are at full capacity, we are able to provide emergency shelter at local facilities. Families must call our office to make an appointment for an intake interview.
Each family member 18 and over must first obtain a N.C.I.C. clearance from the Carlisle Police Department by presenting them with a photo I.D. Please bring N.C.I.C. to your intake interview.
St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Carlisle, PA
Our Resource Center, located at 50 W. Penn St, Carlisle, not only provides our guests with a necessary "home" address to receive mail, but also gives them a place to shower, do laundry, make phone calls, recuperate from illness, as well as use computers to search for jobs and housing. By partnering with more than 25 area social service agencies, the resource center offers a one-stop opportunity to receive not only case management, but also educational, employment, medical, legal and veterans' assistance. The center is open not just to guests of C.A.R.E.S., but also to clients of Safe Harbour, The Salvation Army and Domestic Violence shelters.
Kitchen
Wellness Room
Laundry Facility
Computer Room
Shower Facility
Volunteers are essential to the C.A.R.E.S. organization. Without them, we would not operate. There are many ways to volunteer within the organization. Please take a moment to view the various positions, and click on the buttom below to print off an application! You may either drop it off at the Resource Center or mail it to: 50 West Penn St., Carlisle, PA 17013! Volunteers are ALWAYS needed.
Volunteer Application updated 2010.doc
Professional Volunteer: This person, who works professionally in the social service field or has homeless shelter experience, may do intake evaluations with guests. We require a professional volunteer at the shelter each evening from 8:30-10:00pm. Training is provided.
Male Overnight Volunteer: One male is needed to stay at the shelter overnight. This volunteer position is from 8:30pm to 7:00am. Training is provided, and volunteers are permitted to sleep.
Female Overnight Volunteer: One female is needed to stay at the shelter overnight. This volunteer position is from 8:30pm to 7:00am. Training is provided, and volunteers are permitted to sleep.
Host Volunteer: This person is a member of the church/facility that is hosting the shelter, (s)he unlocks the doors for the volunteers each night and provides them with any necessary information pertaining to the church. This volunteer posistion is from 8:30pm - 10:00pm.
Transportation Drivers : Host churches are sometimes on the outskirts of town and C.A.R.E.S. must provide transportation each morning and evening. This is done by the graciousness of churches who provide both the vehicle and the driver. Check with your church to see if they provide transportation.
Receptionist Volunteer: This person helps in the front office with signing guests, volunteers and visitors into the Resource Center as well as office duties. The Resource Center is open from 7am - 9pm, 365 days of the year including holidays. Training is provided.
Office Volunteer: This person helps with office tasks, such as entering statistical information, printing documents, filing, etc.
Combined Area Volunteer: This person helps out in the Resource Center assisting guests with items they may need as well as helping guests with their laundry.
Carlisle C.A.R.E.S. is always looking for specialized assistance. These positions can range from providing skills to our guests up to providing maintenance on our building. Just a few of our needs are listed below, however please feel free to contact us with any suggestion.
Staff
Shari Bellish
Executive Director
sbellish_carlislecares.org
Sheila Thesen
Executive Assistant/Shelter Manager
sthesen_carlislecares.org
Courtney Johnston-Santana
Case Manager
cjohnstonsantana_carlislecares.org
Jason Rusman
jrusman_carlislecares.org
Reina Newkirk
Resource Center Manager/Volunteer Coordinator
rnewkirk_carlislecares.org
Heather Van Dyne
Receptionist
hvandyne_carlislecares.org
Volunteer Coordinators
Overnight Shelter schedulers
Tricia Cherchuck
Dorothy Lauderbaugh
Deb Miller
For General Information and Questions
info_carlislecares.org
Carlisle C.A.R.E.S. is proud to be a recipient of a cash grant issued quarterly from Community Aid. You have the opportunity to be a direct impact on the final dollar amount of this grant.
Throughout Carlisle you will notice tan "Community Aid" bins which except clothing and shoe donations. For every pound of clothing you deposit in any of the bins containing the Carlisle C.A.R.E.S. logo, we recieve $.04. While that doesn't seem like much, we have been averaging over $6,000 a quarter. So next time you clean out your closet, remember the Community Aid bins. All the locations are listed below.
Country Chef Restaurant
2891 Spring Road, North Middleton Township
Ron Tritt General Store
271 Penrose Place, Carlisle
Super 7 convenience store
330 N. Hanover St., Carlisle
Quik Fill
244 York Road, South Middleton Township
Citgo
1070 Trindle Road, South Middleton Township
Dunkin Donuts
402 E. High St., Carlisle
Kwik Way
1700 Spring Road, North Middleton Township
Getty
Carlisle Springs Road, North Middleton Township
Getty Mart
816 W. High St., Carlisle
Valley Restaurant
1580 Ritner Highway, Carlisle
Benefit Connections
354 Alexander Spring Road, South Middleton Township
N.S. Deli
20 W. Willow St., Carlisle
101 W. First St., South Middleton Township
M&T Bank
1 Forge Road, South Middleton Township
Resource Center Hours
7:00am - 9:00pm Daily
Individual
Emergency Shelter
9:00pm - 7:00am Daily
at host church
Donate
January
Allison United Methodist
99 Mooreland Ave.
February
Grace United Methodist Church
45 South West St.
March
First United Church of Christ
corner of N. Pitt & W. Louther
April
Friends Meeting House
A St
May
Second Presbyterian Church
528 Garland Dri
June
Carlisle Alliance Church
corner of E. North St. & N. East
July
First Church of The Brethren
1340 Forge Rd
August
Otterbein United Methodist Church
647 Forge Rd
September
Unitarian Universalists
Boiling Springs
October
St. Paul Luthern Church
corner of N. West & W. Louther
November
St. John's Episcopal Church
on the square
December
First Lutheran Church
corner of E. High & S. Bedford
Carlisle C.A.R.E.S.
50 W. Penn St
Carlisle, PA 17013
717.249.1009
717.243.5103 fax
