SIDNEY — The bitter cold temperatures predicted for the next few days means the Shelby County Emergency Warming Center, located at the Alpha Community Center, 330 E. Court St., will be open for those in need of a warm place to spend the night.
According to Director Terry Sharp, the warming center will be open Wednesday, Jan. 4, through Sunday, Jan. 8. The center will open each evening at 6:30 p.m. Guests will be welcomed until 9 p.m. at the Alpha Center’s Court Street entrance.
Anyone needing admittance after 9 p.m. must be accompanied by a law enforcement officer or have made prior arrangements to arrive later than 9 p.m. with Sharp.
A hot meal will be served at 7 p.m. to all those at the warming center. Guests will have access to hot showers and a place to sleep. They will be served a hot breakfast at 7 a.m. prior to leaving the Alpha Center.
Predicted lows each night in the low teens and in the single digits is the reason for the opening of the center. Predicted overnight lows are 13 degrees on Wednesday; 9 degrees on Thursday; 8 degrees on Friday; 11 degrees on Saturday; and 13 degrees on Sunday.
The warming center will open anytime weather conditions through March 31, 2017, are predicted to be below 20 degrees by the National Weather Service.
Announcement of the opening of the warming center will be made by noon on days that it will be open by notifying the Shelby County 211 Hotline; Radio Station WMVR; Sidney Daily News; Sidney Police Department; Shelby County Sheriff’s Office; Sidney Fire Department; members of the Shelby County Ministerial Association; and, selected agencies within Shelby County to get the word out.
Announcement of the opening of the Warming Center will also be posted on Sidney First United Methodist Church’s lighted sign at the corner of North Street and Miami Avenue, and on the churches Facebook page and website, www.sidneyfirst.com, according to Sidney First United Methodist Church Pastor David Chivington.
Guests at the Warming Center must agree to follow specific rules. Those rules are available on the website, and will be provided to guests at the time they check in.
Sharp is looking for volunteers to assist with meal preparation and with overnight supervision. For more information, contact Sharp at 937-726-1575 or Sidney First United Methodist Church, 937-492-9136.
