The recent cold snap in Edmonton has been keeping outreach organizations like Hope Mission’s rescue van busy.
Bitterly cold temperatures settled in on the city last weekend, putting pressure on shelters and other homeless supports.
Outreach worker Ed Major, who drives the Hope Mission van, says the service helps alleviate some of that pressure.
The van, a converted ambulance, delivers bagged lunches, water and warm clothes to people on the street.
“What we do is really important,” said Major. “The risk of frostbite is very high.”
Major said many people he helps don’t have cold-weather basics like gloves.
The van also picks up people who are drunk — a potentially deadly situation in the cold weather, Major said.
“The worst case scenario is somebody would freeze to death,” he said.
“You call it frostbite? You know what I call it? Freezerburn,” said Keith Whitford, who’s been helped out by van workers in the past.
Whitford, who is homeless, said the easily-recognizable van can be found downtown or on Whyte Avenue.
Asked what he thinks of the service, he summed it up in a word: “Spectacular.”
