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Minneapolis Salvation Army Shelter 'Crazy Busy'

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Salvation Army's Harbor Light Center in downtown Minneapolis is packed with people seeking refuge from the extreme cold.

Spokeswoman Annette Bauer calls it "crazy busy" with over 600 people compared with a capacity around 450. When the shelter runs out of beds it sets up cots. When it runs out of cots, people sleep in chairs.

Bauer says Salvation Army shelters in Mankato and St. Cloud are also full.

But meal programs at several Salvation Army community centers were seeing fewer patrons Monday. Bauer says that's good if it means people are staying put where they're safe. But she says they worry about what will happen if the weather stays so cold, especially for people who rely on the Salvation Army for their one hot meal of the day.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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