Strengthened by its collaboration with the Central Contra Costa County faith community and various community organizations, Winter Nights is the embodiment of the old adage “Many hands make light work.”

    Now in its 22nd year, the nonprofit’s traveling shelter has continued to offer safe spaces from the elements, with countless volunteers stepping up to provide meals for homeless families and other invaluable services throughout the year.

    The effort has been further bolstered by the increasing participation of local service organizations and groups that are recognizing the need in the region.

    “[The] broader community and the faith-based community coming together is what makes the system work both effectively and efficiently,” said Dan Swander, who began as a dish washer 10 years ago – and still does – as part of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church’s involvement and now is president of the Winter Nights board.

    “There is partnering at every location,” he continued.

    Winter Nights began in 2004 as a program of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County with local interfaith congregations providing facilities for temporary shelter, meals and services for homeless families with children during the winter months.  Since 2020, Winter Nights Family Shelter Inc. has operated as an independent, public benefit nonprofit continuing the Family Shelter and expanding to include a year-round Safe Parking Program and Continued Success for alumni of the programs.

    During the 2025-26 season that began in September and will wrap up in June, five Lamorinda congregations are welcoming Winter Nights as shelter sites, including Lafayette United Methodist Church, Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church, Orinda Community Church, St. Anselm’s Episcopal Church, and St. Perpetua Catholic Church. All have or will be opening their halls for two weeks.

    Another 10 area congregations have stepped up in co-host roles, including Temple Isaiah, Lafayette Christian Church, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lafayette, First Church of Christ Scientist – Orinda, St. Mark’s United Methodist Church – Orinda, Church of Santa Maria – Orinda, Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church – Orinda, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church – Orinda, Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church- Moraga, and St. Monica’s Catholic Church – Moraga.

    Lending their support to these co-hosts have been a plethora of service groups that include the Acalanes High School Service Club, Boy Scout /Girl Scout Troop No. 402, Boy Scout Troop No. 200, Girl Scout Troop No. 31487, Lafayette Juniors, Lamorinda National Charity League, and St. Perpetua’ s School in Lafayette.

    St. Stephen’s Episcopal originally served as a host site and over the years it’s support has transitioned to a co-host role as it did again this year when it handled a week at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Walnut Creek. Swander’s crack team of volunteers in a one-week period tallied 346.5 hours as they provided food preparation and serving, clean up, tutoring to the youngsters and overnight support among other assistance to the Winter Nights staff and their clients.

    The emphasis is on being both emphatic and supportive to their situations. “They ask about ourselves and we try to learn about them without being nosy,” Swander said.

    Judy Stillman has been involved with Winter Nights for 21 years, including serving as its executive director for seven years as well as helping to organize the Traveling Tutors and Reading Rewards in 2008. This year, Lafayette United Methodist Church’s more than 50 volunteers undertook its 13th year supporting the work of Winter Nights in tandem with those in a co-host role during the last two weeks of November.

    Like her peers who lead other congregations that have already or will host the Winter Nights caravan when it rolls into their facilities in the new year, Stillman noted a shared takeaway they all hope for the families they meet and serve.

    “To feel loved and cared for,” said Stillman. “It gives them a chance to breathe and work on moving forward with their lives, be it work or housing.”

    Karen Rose, co-chair of St. Perpetua Church’s efforts with Trina Audley, has been active in that capacity every year since the church initially started hosting in year two.

    When the church site was deemed inadequate for the program, she used her talents to assist Orinda Community Church with its hosting of Winter Nights, and brought St. Perpetua and Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church on board to lend their volunteer support. In addition, groups like the Girl Scouts, Lions Club, and Leo Club were also brought into the mix.  

    Winter Nights returned to St. Perpetua in 2022 when a new hall was opened, and this season between 150 to 200 volunteers are expected to be involved when it arrives in February.  

    “The St. Perpetua volunteers and staff have been extremely welcoming and supportive in serving the Winter Nights families,” said Rose. “We pray that the families feel our loving support.”

    Winter Nights executive director Lenita Wheeler characterized the ongoing support of faith communities like those dotting the Lamorinda region as “essential.”

    “We can pick up the phone anytime and we can be met with generosity,” said Wheeler. Citing their willingness to think through problems with the Winter Nights staff and come up with solutions, “They are true partners.”

    “We literally could not do Winter Nights without the support of our congregations,” she added.