How The Salvation Army in Pocatello Is Bringing People in from the Cold

When record-breaking cold hit Pocatello, Idaho, Mayor Brian Blad turned to The Salvation Army for help. Without hesitation, the Pocatello Outpost responded—opening a daytime warming shelter the very next day.

“When you wake up and see four degrees on your phone, you know it’s cold,” said Mareah Makowski, who leads the Pocatello Outpost with her husband, Bryan.

With more people struggling to afford housing, the need for warmth and shelter has only grown. While the city first asked if The Salvation Army could open an overnight shelter, resources weren’t available for that—but Mareah had another idea.

“Let me see what I can do about a day shelter,” she said.

With support from the Southern Idaho Coordinator, Major Premek Kramerius, funding for extreme weather was quickly allocated. The team sprang into action, and on January 18, they opened the doors.

Over that first weekend, they served more than 75 hot meals, along with coffee, snacks, and warm clothing. Guests could rest, watch TV, play games, and connect with resources for longer-term support. At the end of the day, staff ensured everyone had what they needed to make it through the night—whether it was a blanket, warm clothes, or a referral to another shelter.

And the impact is already reaching beyond warmth and food. Some guests have started attending church services, drawn in not just by the shelter but by the welcoming spirit of the community.

“That’s how we want to minister—that’s how we want to show love,” Bryan said. “With the basics, the necessities. It’s cold—come inside, warm up, have some coffee. Just the basics.”

And in what Mareah calls “God’s perfect timing,” the building’s long-broken boiler was finally repaired just two weeks before the shelter opened.

Now, the daytime warming shelter is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through February—and longer if the cold persists. Because when temperatures drop, no one should be left out in the cold.

Source: https://usawest.sharepoint.com/sites/Caring/SitePages/How-the-Pocatello-Salvation-Army-is-bringing-people-in-from-the-cold.aspx

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