BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — With freezing temperatures hitting Baton Rouge, St. Vincent de Paul is offering vital support to the city’s most vulnerable residents. The organization’s shelters have opened their doors, providing warm meals, safe sleeping arrangements, and relief from the dangerous cold.
“Our shelters are a lifeline,” said Debra Blacher, Director of Community Relations at St. Vincent de Paul. “Depending on whether or not someone has preexisting conditions, the cold could be detrimental to them.”
The organization serves up to 200 people at a time but often sees demand exceed its capacity. Despite this challenge, they remain committed to providing warmth and care to everyone who seeks their help.
Frostbite and other cold-weather-related health emergencies are a significant concern, as explained by Dakasha Leonard, Director of Shelter Relations.
“Sometimes, frostbite doesn’t set in immediately, but we see a lot of emergencies days after extreme cold weather,” said Leonard.