By Thea Jarvis

Despite the Indian summer North Georgia enjoyed through late October and early November, predictions call for a bone-cold winter ahead.

To provide a measure of refuge from the expected wind and weather, volunteers in metro Atlanta have, over the past few years, coordinated a network of shelters that open their doors to the needy and homeless when winter is at its worst.

The largest and perhaps best known of these efforts is located at Central Presbyterian Church's gymnasium on Washington Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in southwest Atlanta. This shelter will open December 1 and offer seven-day-a-week haven from 7:30 p.m. - 6 a.m. to men, women and families with no place to spend the night.

The program continues through March 31 and will house up to 150 persons per night, "a point about which we're going to be adamant," said Betti Knott, executive secretary of the St. Vincent de Paul Society who will again be responsible for rounding up volunteers to staff the shelter this year.

"Last year, we had as many as 240 (people) and it was dangerous," she added with candor.

Mrs. Knott expects the number of people needing assistance and shelter this year to be on the rise.

"We are quite conscious that the situation is going to be much worse this year," she continued. "There seem to be more people on the streets. Our gut level feeling is that there are just more people -- more unemployed."

Central Presbyterian will provide such people with the bare necessities: a floor to sleep on that, although hard, is at least safe and warm; food -- two sandwiches, tea, and a snack, if available, served immediately upon arrival; if needed, someone to talk to, to share the burden of loneliness and isolation that often accompanies economic deprivation.

Volunteers who spend the night at Central -- five are needed per night -- are asked to oversee the shelter from 7:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Setup begins at 6:30 p.m. Volunteers then escort guests into the gym and give a brief orientation concerning rules, times and use of the space.

During the night, volunteers take turns remaining awake to handle emergencies. In the morning, they awaken guests and help them to leave Central by 6 a.m. General cleanup lasts until 6:30 a.m.

Any night of the week is open to volunteers, although it is particularly difficult to staff the Sunday and Monday night shifts. Friday night is, understandably, the most popular choice for those who wish to help.

Betti Knott has characterized the generous folks who man the shelter as those possessing "stout hearts, strong tummies and nerves of steel."

This year, those stout hearts will also be asked to bring food with them for shelter guests. Over 300 peanut butter, bologna, or cheese sandwiches are required each night.

St. Ann's Church in Marietta has already found five volunteers to cover one night's work at Central. They will bring with them 350 sandwiches made by St. Ann's parishioners.

Parish circles, confirmation classes, youth groups and seniors can all get into the act as far as preparing food is concerned. Actual volunteers to spend the night, however, are required to be 18 years or older.

"It's not something for 12-year-olds to do," Mrs. Knott said firmly.

Last year, Central Presbyterian's shelter was scheduled to open January 1. Due to severe cold weather, the date was moved up to December 14. Over 19,000 people made use of the shelter facility, an average of 180 per night.

Of course, Mrs. Knott noted with good humor, "This is a cumulative number. Some people moved in December 1 and were there through March 31."

Last year's volunteers were diligent and faithful, she said, adding that she was especially impressed by the number of priests who volunteered.

Other groups who gave of themselves included the Cursillo movement of the archdiocese, local parishes and Catholic elementary and high schools.

"The high schools (Pius and Marist) had an unofficial contest to see who would make the most sandwiches," Mrs. Knott remembered.

As far as the accomplishments of Central Presbyterian's shelter, she asked simply, "How do you measure success? One hundred eighty people per night were housed, which says something. About 500 people volunteered, which also says something. The support was overwhelming in terms of the Catholic population."