With an estimated 50 to 60 homeless people in Wareham, two churches have opened their doors in an effort to provide shelter for at least some of the homeless.

David Shaw, pastor of the Emmanuel Church of the Nazarene on Rogers Avenue, and his congregation are part of the Nights of Hospitality, along with the Church of the Good Shepherd, Emmanuel Assembly of God, and St. Patrick's Church. The churches alternate weeks in which they offer a meal and housing from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. every evening.

Only the Emmanuel Church of the Nazarene and St. Patrick’s Church, though, have facilities which meet the standard for a "temporary overnight shelter" as defined by the state. These churches around allowed to take ten people in per night.

Three years ago, St. Patrick’s revamped its programming and began its shelter program.

"Initially, it was just an overnight shelter, but after the first week we started serving meals," Shaw said.

Shaw said the Wareham Lodge of Elks Club brings dinner two nights a week, the Eagles Club brings breakfast on Sunday mornings and the YMCA allows people at shelter to shower twice a week.

Donations go beyond food, though.

Over the years, a knitting club donated hats, a community group donated Dunkin Donuts gift cards for Christmas and a local Baptist Church donated backpacks filled with personal hygiene items.

Only the Church of the Nazarene and St. Patrick’s have facilities which meet the standard for a "temporary overnight shelter" as defined by the state.

The Rev. John Sullivan of St. Patrick’s Church explained the system: “St. Patrick’s will staff the shelter one week in January, February and March, but it’s held at St. Patrick’s every other week.”

Jimmy Baptista is the weekly supervisor at the Emmanuel Church of the Nazarene. He said a typical day consists of coming in before 7 p.m. to set up the sleeping area and make coffee.

After the volunteers on the first shift are comfortable, he makes sure to come back before the next shift starts at 10 p.m.

He coordinated the dropping off of meals in the morning and the evening and after everyone leaves he cleans up.

Without the church program, the homeless “would have to be out on their own,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan said the meal is an attempt to ensure that the people they help overnight can make it through the day.

“It’s a sad commentary to say we have to do this,” he said. “We have to protect people from the elements.”

“They would have to be out on their own otherwise,” Sullivan said.