MANKATO, Minn. (AP) - The Salvation Army’s men’s shelter in Mankato has opened as scheduled for the winter season, even though it’s still not fully staffed.
Maj. Jonathan Fjellman told the Mankato Free Press (https://bit.ly/2fkiDfb) they made the decision to go ahead with the opening Tuesday evening after checking with the shelter staff to make sure they were comfortable working extra hours until two more positions are filled.
“We were confident we were still going to open,” Fjellman said. “We just had to make sure the staff could work the extra time to have it open.”
The nonprofit’s leaders had hoped to have eight staff positions filled by the opening date. The total number of workers was raised to six with two new hires Monday, but there weren’t any additional applicants Tuesday.
Salvation Army staff will spend the time it takes interviewing applicants until all spots are filled. Pay for the position is $10 per hour. Remaining shifts are Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
According to a program coordinator for The Salvation Army Leslie Nibbe-Johnson filling the over-night positions will be the most challenging.
“Unfortunately with positions like this, there’s turnover,” she said.
Some recent applicants didn’t pass background checks, and background checks for others are pending.
Last year the shelter served 129 men.
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Information from: The Free Press, https://www.mankatofreepress.com
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