Dozens Utilize Rockford Rescue Mission in Sub-Zero Temperatures

ROCKFORD - Amos Walstrom is joining dozens of others with no where to go, but trying to stay warm.  He's sought refuge at the Rockford Rescue Mission. 

"Do not go outside!" exclaimed Walstrom.  "I went out there, walked a couple of blocks and it's really cold."

Walstrom has never known what it's like to be cold outside with no where to go.  With a checkered past, he says if he didn't have a house he was staying in jail instead. 

"It's my second time here," lamented Walstrom.  "I've had some problems that I'm trying to get worked out and I came in just in time for me.  Keeps me out of the cold and I'm trying to get my life re-straightened out." 

Countless others are either trying to pull it together like Walstrom or just seek shelter from the cold.  On an average day, the Rockford Rescue Mission's day room sees about 60-70 people looking to get in from the outside.  Today, the day room saw more like 90 people and expect many will stay the night.

"Virtually anybody is allowed to stay as long as they can respect the rights and safety of the other people here," said the men's crisis center supervisor, Bill Feffer of Rockford Rescue Mission.

But some opt not to utilize the Rescue Mission's services or any other warming center to stay safe in the Stateline.

"There are number of people in the Rockford area who will not come into a shelter to spend the night for various reasons," said Feffer.  "In some cases it's mental health issues, some people just don't like being around other people."

Walston will be spending the night at the Mission tonight.  Having spent the night behind bars at the Winnebago County Justice Center just a couple of months before being at the Mission, being out of the cold is just one of the things he thanks the mission for doing.

"This keeps me from getting farther into situations that I don't want to be in," said Walston.

WTVO will be hosting the Rockford Rescue Mission's "Evening of Hope" this Thursday, January 24^th, from 7:00 - 9:00PM.  You can help the Rockford Rescue Mission continue to provide a warm place for people to go in the cold.

For a list of the Stateline's warming centers click here.