With the first measurable snow on the ground, the Salvation Army’s Winter Night Watch is underway.
John Kuzma, Director of the Winter Night Watch, says the program was established 24 years ago and initially ran from 9:00 p.m. to midnight.
He says about eight years ago, there was a shift and the Winter Night Watch started serving more families than single individuals.
Because of this, Kuzma says Winter Night Watch started serving dinner from 6:00 to 9:00. Winter Night Watch is out Monday through Friday nights through February 28th.
Kuzma says the program provides a hot meal and warm clothing to those in need.
"About the middle of the month, this meal is a supplement, due to the fact that a lot of these folks have run out of their meal cars. From the middle of the month to the end of the month, we may be providing the only hot meal they are getting during the day. So instead of spending money on the meal, they could save the money to help pay utilities or rent or some other cost they have.”
Kuzma says there are two canteens that serve food and hand out winter clothing. The first one makes multiple stops in midtown and downtown Omaha.
The second canteen covers the streets of South Omaha on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights and stops at several locations including 24th and N Streets.
Coats and other winter items may be donated to the Winter Night Watch at any Omaha fire station.