Wyckoff - The Christian Health Care Center opened its doors to the powerless community on Thursday, Nov. 1, to provide a shelter for warmth, food and the all-important opportunity to charge electronics.

PHOTOS BY LYNN BRUGGEMANN

An Internet connection was all some residents wanted last week, and that's one of the things they could find at the Christian Health Care Center.Douglas Struyk, president and CEO of Christian Health Care Center, with visitor Anna Leanheart of Wyckoff.

"We will be open to the community until the need is gone and things return to normal," said Douglas A. Struyk, president and CEO.

Struyk and Carol Hertenstein, a nurse and president of the Wyckoff Board of Health, met with the Wyckoff Office of Emergency Management (OEM) team to brainstorm how the facility could help the community during the crisis.

"We have helped out in snow emergencies and took inventory of what we could offer the community," said Struyk. Besides Internet access and warm food, it offered hot showers.

"We can send out our van to transport any resident in need from their home to our campus," Struyk said.

The Wyckoff OEM sent out an email alerting residents of the daytime shelter. Powerhouse Christian Church also was converted into a daytime shelter and was equipped to respond to the needs of families with young children.

At the Christian Health Care Center, resident Anna Leanheart enjoyed a hot lunch and conversation while she charged her cellphone.

"My neighbor told me about the services and drove me over here so I could warm up," said Leanheart. She and others in the auditorium enjoyed episodes of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and movies to help pass the time.

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Christian Health Care Center answers neighbors' need