SIDNEY — The mercury in the thermometers dropped Monday night causing Sidney’s newly-established Warming Center to open.
“I think it went very well,” said Mary Ann Smiley, the center’s director. ” We had one gentleman stay overnight. We had another one here and he received a call from his children who asked him to come home.”
Smiley said two other people stopped by but neither stayed.
“One thought we were the Hilton,” she said. “He wanted to know where the color television was. He said he’s been doing this for four years and he’ll just go to the hospital to stay until 11 p.m. and then let the cops take him.”
Another person, she said, didn’t like the rules and regulations the center has.
“We ask that they turn over all their prescription drugs so they can be put in a lock box,” said Smiley.
The medication, she said, would be dispersed when it was time for a dosage to be given. This, she said, is for the safety of all the people staying there, including the volunteers.
“The gentleman that did stay was so appreciative,” said Smiley. “He kept saying ‘thank you.’”
The center is a place where homeless people and others in need to go when the temperature dips below 20 degrees. The Warming Center will be open to anyone endangered by weather conditions from Jan. 2 to March 31 when the National Weather Service announces the temperatures will drop below the established 20 degrees.
“We’re going to have a four or five day reprieve,” said Smiley. “Then we’re supposed to have 27 days of under 20 degree weather.”
Smiley said the center has received donations of meals, blankets and cots. What they need is more volunteers willing to spend the night when the center is open.
“I haven’t slept since this time yesterday (2 p.m. Monday),” said Smiley. “Two volunteers spend the night. We’ve set up that we have one volunteer for every eight people.
“We have 12 cots available. They can sleep on a blanket on the floor if the cots are full. We won’t turn anyone away.”
The cots, she said, were donated by the Red Cross.
“The volunteers stay up all night,” she said. “I spent the night watching western moves. I watch a lot of them with my husband so I’ve seen a bunch. I saw one that I have never seen before.”
Movies, cards, books and magazines are available for those who spend the night.
A meal of chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes and peaches was served, she said.
“I’m sure they don’t get a hot meal a lot,” said Smiley.
She said she’s very appreciative of all the support the warming center has received from the community.
“We’re not here to enable but to empower the people. We hope to send them to resources that will help them to get out of their circumstances,” said Smiley.
Announcement of the opening of the Warming Center will be made by noon of the day it will be open and sent to the following:
• Radio station WMVR
• Sidney Daily News
• Sidney Police Department
• Shelby County Sheriff’s Office
• Sidney Fire Department
• Selected agencies within Shelby County
• Members of the Ministerial Association
The Warming Center will also open Tuesday night.
Anyone wishing to volunteer at the center or donate items should contact Smiley at 225-335-2823 or by email, [email protected].
