PUEBLO – As temperatures approached the freezing point Wednesday night, work began heating up for the Pueblo Rescue Mission.

The once-defunct nonprofit is now back on its feet, tasked with operating the recently approved short-term warming shelter in Pueblo.

The board of directors selected Kathy Cline, a long-time advocate for the homeless and an experienced shelter worker, as executive director at a meeting Wednesday night, because making a difference starts with hiring the right people.

“I believe we’re on our way as of tonight,” Cline said. “We want to be a hand up, not a hand out, and I think that we started a great process tonight. I’m very excited. I’m very honored. This is quite emotional for me. I’m very pleased.”

Chairman Matthew Hasler, who also is the lead pastor at Grace Life Church, said running the shelter isn’t a job for one person.

That’s why the mission is actively searching for more people to become employees.

“We’re looking at hiring probably around three men and three women, so we can have at least one man and one woman overnight, every night,” Hasler said.

The group is also hurrying to pan out the details, including insurance policies for the site, equipment needs and more, as they try to provide refuge from the cold as soon as possible.

“We won’t waste any time. We all recognize it’s already cold. We need this as soon as possible, so it will be open as soon as we can,” Hasler said.

In addition to volunteers, the mission is in desperate need of blankets and sleeping bags for the homeless to use inside the warming tents. If you’re interested in donating, you can call Cline at 719-251-2136.