The Aspen Homeless Shelter is hosting special Christmas events for its clients Tuesday night.
Monday evening, a special Christmas Eve dinner was prepared, and an extra meal will be served on Christmas day. These events rely on donated food from private and commercial donors, as well as over 20 volunteers to cook and serve the meal.
Clients staying at the shelter on Christmas Eve also received a Christmas gift from the Aspen Chapel.
There are between 50 and 60 clients staying at the shelter. About 200 visit the shelter annually. This time of year is especially tough for the homeless; nighttime temperatures dip well below freezing, so the Aspen Homeless Shelters opens its doors, and its kitchens, to spread extra holiday cheer.
Director of Development for the shelter Dasa Bausova says homelessness in Aspen isn’t always a visible problem, but that it’s important to know there are needy people in the community.