Cold drives droves of homeless into shelters

ATLANTA - Homeless shelters in Atlanta overflowed this weekend as thousands of people sought food and refuge from freezing temperatures. <br> <br> ``Everybody is running from the cold,&#39;&#39; said John Ertel, 52, who was fortunate enough to get a bunk at Atlanta Union Mission. <br> <br> Others slept on extra mattresses spread on the floor at the mission, which held 325 men Friday night. <br> <br> ``We&#39;re going to be packed probably through February, March,&#39;&#39; said Van Contreras, an administrative assistant at the mission. <br> <br> Atlanta temperatures were forecast to hover around the freezing point Sunday night before warming to highs of 55 degrees Monday. <br> <br> Other shelters and churches in the metro Atlanta area served dinners and recruited volunteers wanting to help out on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. <br> <br> On Monday, more than 15,000 people are expected to eat at the Hosea Williams Feed the Hungry dinner at Turner Field.