WHEELING — The Life Hub’s winter shelter’s last night of operation is tonight, the organization announced Thursday. When those using it depart Saturday morning, it will be closed for the season.

More than 360 people were served this winter at the shelter, located at the former First English Lutheran Church in downtown Wheeling.

The winter shelter opened Dec. 15 and operated from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. and was able to house 40 people each night.

City of Wheeling Homeless Liaison Melissa Adams said it took a ton of teamwork to keep things rolling through the winter.

“Ohio County is blessed with several social service agencies and faith-based communities dedicated to providing resources within their mission to assist the poor and homeless,” Adams said. “Collaborative efforts are important for the low barrier shelter to operate during the winter and beyond.”

Meals were provided throughout the winter by Life Hub community partners, including the Catholic Charities Neighborhood Center, the Soup Kitchen of Greater Wheeling, and HoH-Share at their locations. Street Moms provided street outreach, The Greater Wheeling Coalition for the Homeless provided services, and partnering agencies offered showers and laundry.

The current church building will undergo renovations and the construction on-site of a new shelter building in the near future that will include showers and laundry facilities.

Helping Heroes coordinated shelter services for veterans. YWCA Wheeling housed victims of domestic violence. Families were sheltered at partnering organizations or in hotel rooms when needed. Project HOPE made regular rounds and provided care for medical needs.

“It takes an entire community to ensure those in need have the proper care and coordination for wraparound services,” said Joyce Wolen, Wheeling Housing Authority’s executive director. “The Life Hub is so grateful to all our community partners. We cannot thank them enough for their partnerships.”

Life Hub Winter Shelter Director John Moses stressed that the Life Hub will continue collaborating with community partners to coordinate homeless services beyond the shelter and to ensure basic emergent needs are addressed quickly and efficiently. Housed individuals and families needing rental assistance or utility assistance can continue to call 211, another community partner through the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley.

Donation checks may be made out to the Life Hub nonprofit and mailed to P.O. Box 2089; Wheeling, WV 26003. A website landing page can securely accept online donations at lifehubwv.org. Cash donations are used to purchase items such as work uniforms, scrubs, workstyle boots, shoes, and bus tokens.

Donations will be used beyond the winter to prevent homelessness, get individuals and families into housing, and ensure the most vulnerable and sick people have access to shelter to convalesce.