Front Royal Winter Shelter Prepares to Open as Social Services Seeks Holiday Help for Local Families

As colder weather approaches and the holidays draw near, two familiar faces from Warren County’s Department of Social Services are asking the community to help make sure local families and individuals have the support they need.

Nichole Johns, Program Coordinator, and Michelle Smeltzer, Community Liaison with Warren County Social Services and president of HARTS, recently visited the Royal Examiner studio to discuss several upcoming programs, including a Christmas sponsorship effort, a community resource fair, and the reopening of Front Royal’s winter homeless shelter.

While the programs serve different needs, they share a common purpose: connecting people with help and reminding residents that hardship is often closer to home than they realize.

Winter Shelter Opens December 6, but Meals Are Still Needed

Hope and Rest Temporary Shelter, commonly known as HARTS, will open its doors for the winter season on Sunday, December 6, at 6 p.m.

The shelter will again operate at Front Royal Presbyterian Church, located at 115 Luray Avenue, with guests entering from the rear of the building.

HARTS provides a warm place to sleep, meals, and basic assistance for adults experiencing homelessness during the coldest months of the year. The shelter operates nightly from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m., with paid staff on duty.

But before the doors open, organizers need help with one of the shelter’s most important services: dinner.

“We’re still in need of dinners,” Smeltzer explained. “We’re missing quite a few days in December, and then, of course, we still need to fill January, February, and March. But I’m most concerned with December.”

Individuals, families, churches, businesses, and civic organizations can sign up to prepare and deliver meals. Volunteers can choose a single evening or commit to several dates throughout the winter.

A typical dinner includes a main course, a vegetable, and a starch such as potatoes, rice, or macaroni and cheese.

The number of meals needed varies as the winter progresses. Smeltzer said the shelter generally begins the season serving about 20 to 25 people each evening. During January and February, when temperatures are often at their lowest, that number can climb to around 35.

Not everyone who comes for dinner stays overnight.

Some people experiencing homelessness live in their vehicles or are uncomfortable sleeping in a shelter. They may stop by for a warm meal before returning to wherever they are staying.

In addition to dinner, HARTS provides a simple breakfast and bagged lunches that guests can take with them when they leave in the morning.

Volunteers are also needed for meal service, laundry, transportation, and other daily activities.

Those interested in providing a meal or helping at the shelter can visit www.hartsofwarren.org and follow the volunteer sign-up information.

Helping People Who Are Often Overlooked

One of the challenges in addressing homelessness, Smeltzer explained, is that many people experiencing it are not easily recognized.

They may be shopping at the grocery store, walking through town, or going about their daily routines like everyone else.

“Our unhoused are everywhere,” she said. “They’re walking with you in Walmart, they’re walking with you in Martin’s, and you don’t know it.”

For some, homelessness means sleeping in a car. Others move between temporary accommodations or depend on friends and family for a place to stay.

HARTS is designed as a low-barrier shelter, meaning people do not have to pass drug or alcohol screenings to receive overnight shelter. It serves men and women age 18 and older and has rules intended to maintain a safe, respectful environment. Children are not permitted after guests arrive.

The organization also helps connect guests with other community resources, including assistance through Social Services, counseling services, and programs offered by local nonprofits.

Smeltzer emphasized that HARTS is an independent nonprofit, not a Department of Social Services program. Although she and Johns work for Social Services and are involved with the shelter, HARTS relies on community support, donations, and volunteers.

Front Royal also has another important resource for people experiencing homelessness.

House of Hope, located at 724 Warren Avenue, operates a residential program for homeless men who are committed to making lasting changes in their lives.

Unlike HARTS, which focuses on providing immediate overnight shelter during winter, House of Hope offers a structured program that helps residents work toward employment, independence, and stable housing.

Residents receive shelter, food, case management, help obtaining services, and guidance in developing life skills. The program maintains rules and sobriety requirements and works with each participant on a plan to transition into permanent housing.

Together, the programs address different community needs, from immediate protection against cold weather to longer-term assistance for people working to rebuild their lives.

More information about House of Hope is available at www.warrencountyhomeless.org or by calling 540-635-2466.

Community Meeting Set for November 19

Before the winter shelter opens, HARTS will host its annual neighborhood meeting on Thursday, November 19, at 6 p.m., in the sanctuary of Front Royal Presbyterian Church.

The meeting gives nearby residents an opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns, and learn how the shelter operates.

Smeltzer said the organization distributes notices throughout the neighborhood each year and works to maintain good relationships with surrounding residents.

Law enforcement representatives are generally invited to answer questions, and shelter organizers are willing to provide tours so residents can see the facility and understand its operations.

Transportation will also continue this winter, with guests picked up near the gazebo in downtown Front Royal.

The organization recently obtained a newer minivan to replace an aging larger vehicle. Although the smaller vehicle may require additional trips, Smeltzer said it should be easier for volunteers to drive and maintain.

She also thanked local businesses and the Blue Ridge Technical Center for assisting with the organization’s transportation needs.

Social Services Looking for Christmas Sponsors

While HARTS prepares for winter, Warren County Social Services is working to make Christmas brighter for children in foster care and families receiving services through the department.

Johns said the department is looking for additional individuals, families, and businesses willing to sponsor children during the holiday season.

“So, we have a list currently right now, and so we are needing more sponsors for our children in care,” she explained.

The program is similar to an Angel Tree or Adopt-a-Family effort. Sponsors receive information about a child’s needs, including clothing sizes and gift preferences, so they can choose items that are useful and appreciated.

Johns said there is no fixed amount participants must spend. The goal is to match willing sponsors with children who might otherwise receive little during the holidays.

Smeltzer noted that the department’s effort also helps families working with Social Services who may not qualify for other Christmas assistance programs.

Some families seek help after other organizations close their holiday applications, leaving fewer options as Christmas approaches.

Rising household expenses can make the season especially difficult for families already struggling to cover food, utilities, transportation, and other necessities.

Johns said residents interested in sponsoring a child can contact her through Warren County Social Services at 540-635-3430, extension 3352.

The department is also referring eligible families to Toys for Tots, which, according to the interview, is accepting applications through December 1.

Final Community Resource Fair December 2

Another opportunity to connect with local services is coming on Wednesday, December 2, from 1 to 3 p.m., at Samuels Public Library in Front Royal.

The Warren County Department of Social Services will host its final Community Resource Fair of 2026, bringing together organizations that provide assistance and services throughout the area.

Johns said the fairs have been moved to the library because the location is convenient and accessible to the public.

At the previous event, approximately 22 organizations participated, with an estimated 30 to 40 visitors attending.

The fairs give residents a chance to speak directly with representatives of organizations offering services such as employment assistance, health care resources, counseling, family support, and other community programs.

They also create opportunities for residents interested in volunteering.

Sometimes, Smeltzer noted, participating organizations even discover services they didn’t realize were available locally. Those connections can help agencies work together instead of duplicating efforts.

The Resource Fair is free and open to the public. It will be held in the library’s White Meeting Room at 330 East Criser Road.

Walking Together on the Coldest Night

Looking ahead, HARTS is also preparing for the next Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk, scheduled for February 27, 2027.

The event invites individuals, families, churches, and community organizations to form teams, raise funds, and walk in support of people experiencing homelessness.

Smeltzer encouraged residents to begin organizing teams and registering through the event’s website.

The annual fundraiser supports the shelter’s operations and highlights the realities faced by people without stable housing during winter.

More information and registration are available at cnoy.com/location/frontroyal.

For Johns and Smeltzer, all these efforts demonstrate how much can be accomplished when a community works together.

Some residents may be able to sponsor a child for Christmas. Others might prepare a meal, volunteer at the shelter, support House of Hope, or help raise money through the winter walk.

And for those needing assistance themselves, the upcoming resource fair offers a chance to discover what help is available.

As temperatures fall and the holidays approach, the message is simple: people in Warren County need a little help, and neighbors have opportunities to make a difference.

Sometimes, that difference begins with something as ordinary as a warm meal, a Christmas gift, or a safe place to sleep.

Town Talk, sponsored by National Media Services, Inc., is a Royal Examiner series that introduces you to local entrepreneurs, business owners, nonprofit leaders, and public officials shaping Warren County. Conversations cover a wide range of topics about our community and the people making a difference.