On a cold winter night, a local radio personality wanted to make more aware as to what homeless people experience in the bitter cold. It was also an opportunity to raise funds and donations for the Open Door Mission.

WGLZ radio morning host K.B. Cooper braved the elements. She climbed to the roof of the Rundel Library in downtown Rochester at 5:00 p.m. Thursday with the goal of spending 24 hours out in the cold.

It was her way of sharing the experience of being homeless with her listeners and asking them to donate cash, clothing and food to the Open Door Mission.

"When I finish with this I will go home and I will think about what I will do the rest of the weekend,” Cooper said. “These folks are not thinking about going in to a nice warm home. They're thinking about where the next meal is going to come from, if they don't have a constant place to be where the next bed down is going to be."

The fundraiser happened to fall on the coldest night of the season.

The hypothermia shelter program also went into effect. It makes extra beds are available for the homeless with no restrictions at the Open Door Mission and all shelters throughout the city. It remains in effect until Saturday.

"I don't know what I would do without a place like this,” said Richard Gillette. “I'm blessed that I'm here, I'm blessed that I got a bed, I'm blessed that I got a hot meal, I'm blessed they opened up the hypothermia."

When filled to capacity, the Open Door Mission accommodates up to 40 people. There were far more than that seeking shelter there on Thursday and none were turned away.

Those with nowhere else to go say spending a night in the harsh elements can be a terrifying experience.

"It's scary,” Joe Reed said. “You don't know what to do; you don't know what's going to happen while you're trying to sleep."

Many who are forced to spend a cold night outdoors say they get very little if any sleep at all. Most of the night is spent just trying to find a place to huddle up and stay warm.

"Sneaking into the different buildings out here in the city of Rochester and sleeping, getting caught by the security there and them putting me out and running from one place to another,” explained Michael McLamore. “It's tough when you ain't got a place like this."

But the Open Door Mission can't put these people up without the public's support. This time of year winter coats, hats, gloves, boots and socks are disparately needed. Donations are being accepted outside the Rundel Library through 5:00 p.m. Friday.

Open Door Mission
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