Portales showering homeless with help

A hot shower. A clean pair of socks. A warm, safe place to spend the night.

Many of us take these luxuries for granted.

For those who don't have that choice – regardless of circumstance – Portalesanos Samantha Schrader and Tate Smith are committed to meeting that need, and they are inviting us to help.

Schrader has called Portales home since 2016. She's a student at Eastern New Mexico University completing a degree in social work.

Smith, who moved here in 2023, is an administrative assistant for the Portales campus of Legacy Church.

The two met last summer because of a post on social media made by Schrader after she lamented online that there was a lack of services available for the unhoused in our community.

"I did a post saying we need to do something here," Schrader said. "Tate reached out to me."

That chance meeting led to the two coming together with other concerned community members to form the Portales Homeless Initiative.

They're currently in the process of formalizing things by seeking their 501(c)3 status, but that doesn't mean they're not already starting to find ways to help.

Their first service became available on Nov. 18 when they started offering the opportunity for weekly hot showers in the clean and safe environment of the parish hall restrooms at St. Helen Catholic Church, 1600 S. Ave. O, Portales.

St. Helen prepares free lunches for ENMU students each Thursday that classes are in session. Schrader was at one of those weekly meals when she discovered the church already had showers built into the bathrooms that sit at the back of the parish hall.

After she saw that potential resource, "something kept driving me," she said.

Schrader obtained permission from St. Helen to use those showers from 9 a.m. to noon most Mondays. Anyone who needs a shower is welcome to come.

"Anyone" means ANYONE, Schrader stressed, including folks who are housed but may not have access to plumbing or hot water. (And by the way, hours this week are limited to 9 a.m.-11 a.m. because of another event in the hall.)

The east door of the parish hall is open during those hours, and all supplies (towels, wash cloths, soap, shampoo, etc.) are provided, along with coffee, tea, and snacks.

A total of six showers are available – three each for men and women. Volunteers are on hand to clean showers after each user and provide assistance and security, along with warm smiles and friendly faces, Schrader said.

"There are people that really, truly need this," Schrader said. "We want them to know that 'we see you.' They can at least get one shower a week."

Another service – and one that was especially valuable this past week – is regular access to a "warming station" for frigid nights (and days if necessary) at Legacy Church, located at 820 W. 18th St., Portales.

That came about after Smith, who has worked at Legacy since September of 2023, saw a Facebook post despairing that no such facility existed in Portales.

He credits his wife, Kimberly, with giving him the push to seek permission to open doors for those in need of shelter.

"I ran it past our pastor and he said yes," Smith said. "We get one to two people most nights when we are open. The maximum was nine."

The facility currently has 10 cots available and "enough blankets to cover the church," Smith said.

They are committed to providing "a safe space for men and women," Smith said, staffed by volunteers who are "mostly Legacy security team members."

Anytime temperatures plummet, the church will have the front door open with volunteers on hand

Transportation is available by calling the church at 575-562-7761. After hours calls are forwarded to Smith's phone.

While the showers and the warming center are housed in churches, Schrader and Smith are adamant these services are provided with "absolutely no strings attached."

"We want them to be safe and warm," Smith said, "not shove a Bible down their throat."

Schrader said they hope these two services are merely the first stepping stones in a path that will eventually lead to a shelter in Portales, "a place for people to get back on their feet."

In the meantime, they could use our help in spreading the word about the showers and the warming center, as well as volunteering our time.

"Portales is a wonderful community," Schrader said. "They are quick to help (with donations), but not always quick to volunteer. Time is what we need. It just takes a little bit ... just a mustard seed."

If you have a mustard seed to offer this dedicated duo, please reach out to Schrader by email at [email protected] or to Smith by texting or calling him at 575-562-7597. Information is also regularly posted on the Portales Homeless Initiative page on Facebook.

Smith said he dreams of a time when services like this will not be needed. Until then, "I'm blessed to be in a position to help," he said.

Betty Williamson tips her hat to these community problem solvers. Reach her at:

[email protected]