Warm Hearts

After frigid temperatures hit Carroll County just before Christmas, Tom Chew of the Berryville United Methodist Church began looking at how the homeless in the community were being impacted.

“Homelessness has been a growing issue nationwide, and while we tend to hear about homelessness in larger cities, small towns and rural areas are not exempt from those challenges; Berryville and Carroll County are no exception,” said Chuck Landis, who is helping spearhead the effort to provide a warming shelter for area homeless people. “While we have a space at our church that would be appropriate for getting folks out of the cold, we recognize that to acquire all the resources necessary, we must work collaboratively with others in the area who see the need in the community and would like to support the effort in some capacity.”

The intent is for the warming center to open any time the overnight temperatures are forecasted to reach a targeted temperature of 15 degrees or lower. The center would open late in the afternoon and serve a hot dinner such as a hearty soup, and each overnight resident will have a cot and a table where they can place their belongings and will be provided with a few personal hygiene products and small snacks. They will be expected to provide their own bedding, and will have access to restroom facilities. In the morning, they will be served a breakfast before the warming center closes down for the day. If temperatures the following evening will again drop to the targeted temperature of 15 degrees, the warming center will reopen later in the day to house people overnight.

“Any time the warming center is open, it will be staffed by volunteers from the community,” Landis said. “While we are getting some funding together short-term to address start-up needs, our greatest need at this time is volunteers who would be willing to staff the center. The goal is to operate three overnight shifts of about five hours each, staffed by at least two volunteers. Getting a good bench of volunteers who can regularly respond when needed is critical to the success of this program.”

If you or your group are interested in volunteering for the warming center, contact Landis at 402-800-5446. If you are interested in donating to the center, your donation is tax-deductible. Make checks payable to Berryville United Methodist Church, and note “warming center” on the memo line. Mail donations to BUMC, PO Box 267, or drop off them during business hours at the church, located at 400 Eureka Ave. in Berryville.