For many years, the pews at St. John’s Episcopal Church faced the front of the sanctuary in the traditional manner. Then, the congregation decided to rearrange them. “We can all see each other now,” said Kathy Whittemore, a member of the church’s senior leadership and an Amherst College faculty member. “We sort of decided to move in a more intimate and less hierarchical direction.” At St. John’s, one can feel the warmth of the congregation even when the pews are empty.
This is just one example of the church’s many efforts to foster togetherness and aid its community, both in and out of religious services. Their latest effort: a brand new community shelter.
The church has hosted Manna Community Kitchen since the 1980s, aiming to alleviate food insecurity in Northampton by serving roughly 250 meals a day. St. John’s also provides an indoor warming center for those seeking refuge from the cold, a clothing closet and a mailing address for those who need one. These efforts directly reflect the church’s mission statement: “Committed to walking together in the Way of Love.” In January 2025, the church’s commitment to their mission led to an idea.
Community Service Options has served as the primary shelter for Northampton’s unhoused community for years, with a new expanded shelter opening in December 2024. “It’s got, in the winter, roughly 70 beds for folks to stay at overnight,” Whittemore said of the CSO shelter. However, the St. John’s leadership team saw that one shelter alone was not enough. “St. John’s thought we could be the emergency overflow shelter. When the Community Service Options shelter was full, we could be the next choice,” Whittemore said.
The community came together quickly to transform the church basement into a hospitable shelter, which opened on Jan. 1, 2026. The process included painting walls and bringing ventilation and fire safety measures up to code. Whittemore described the transformation as a true team effort, with members of the church community and leadership team collaborating closely to make the shelter a reality.
The St. John’s Emergency Shelter is classified as a congregational low barrier shelter, meaning guests do not have to be sober in order to stay there. The shelter offers 12 beds per night and opens when the temperature drops below 15 degrees.
“Typically, if you look at weather patterns, the criteria for… danger is under 15 degrees.” This winter, the temperature in Northampton fell below that benchmark many times. Since Jan. 1, the shelter has been open for more than 20 nights. As a result, “It’s upwards of… 100 beds that have been filled,” Whittemore said. In addition, St. John’s Building and Grounds Team co-Chair David Reckhow noted that there is some room to expand the shelter’s scale in the future. As he said, “Every bed filled is a victory.”
Approximately 70 volunteers have been trained to work at the shelter. During training, volunteers learn de-escalation techniques, Narcan administration and how to supervise residents across four separate shifts. The shelter provides hot food and drinks such as cocoa and ramen; activities such as books and games and places for residents to keep their pets and belongings. St. John’s also uses bariatric cots, a wider alternative to traditional cots that allow occupants to turn in their sleep. In partnership with the Northampton branch of Tandem Bagels, shelter guests receive free bagels every morning. Beyond meeting residents’ physical needs, the St. John’s shelter aims to provide dignity and community to those who need it.
While the Emergency Shelter is new, St. John’s has supported the Northampton community for years, fostering a strong connection with Smith throughout that time. Before Helen Hills’ construction in 1955, St. John’s served as the main campus chapel. Students and staff have since remained involved by attending weekly services and teaching Sunday school.
“There’s a lot of Smithiness happening here,” said Whittemore. For Smithies looking to continue that collaboration, Whittemore emphasized that St. John’s is always seeking volunteers.
Now that the coldest part of winter is over, the shelter is closed for the season, but the church has expressed a need for volunteers in other areas, especially making and serving food for Manna Community Kitchen. In future winters, the shelter will reopen and again seek volunteers.
“I don’t really see anything happening that decreases the need,” said Reckhow.
He noted that the City of Northampton is working to develop a “Community Resilience Hub,” where unhoused and housing-insecure individuals can seek resources and aid. Plans for the hub include an emergency shelter for “acute” events such as disasters or storms.
Reckhow emphasized that the hub will, hopefully, begin to mitigate the systemic problems faced by unhoused members of the Northampton community. “The city needs to be looking at the bigger picture,” he said.
Until the Community Resilience Hub project is funded and completed, St. John’s will continue to play an essential role as a key Northampton shelter. Whittemore said Smithies looking to make a difference in the broader community can always find a place there.
“We are so glad to be part of Smith, and it’s always great to have volunteers from there,” said Whittemore.
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