HANCOCK COUNTY — Step outside for two minutes and you’ll know without question winter has finally arrived. The ground is frozen, frost is visible and warmer temperatures have headed south faster than a jet full of spring-breakers.
Some of the coldest weather of the season has arrived, with low temperatures the next two days around 10 degrees and highs well below freezing. The county’s Community Organization Active in Disaster wants to remind people that it plans to have a warming center open at one of its designated places.
The Landing, 18 West South Street is the main site for the warming center with the Greenfield Christian Church, 23 North East Street and the Evangel Church 1221 East Main Street as backup places. The Hancock Hope House 35 East Pierson, Greenfield, is the alternative site should any of the other places not be able to host. Anyone interested in finding out which site is open over night should check with signs posted at the Kenneth Butler Soup Kitchen around dinner time.
The site for tonight and Friday’s warming center will be at the Landing.
Jim Peters of the Salvation Army Hancock County, co-chair of COAD, said volunteers are prepared to welcome anyone who needs to get out of the cold.
However, with multiple cold nights projected in the forecast, the effort could still use some volunteers to work a few shifts and help supervise.
“When we have to put three and four nights together, where it looks like we might here in the coming days, it’s really tough,” Peters said.
While the COAD has been able to get a few volunteers to help out, they still need others to step forward so people are not having to work the overnights several nights in a row.
“We have people who are willing to do that, but we’d rather not ask that much of others,” Peters said.
Like other organizations, COAD is also mindful of COVID. Several volunteers are currently in quarantine, making the need for new volunteers important. As for volunteers being exposed to COVID, Peters said they take people’s temperatures and ask questions before allowing anyone to spend the night at a warming center.
“We’re being super cautious and going beyond the new CDC guidelines,” Peters said.
While Peters noted while coordinators prefer anyone wishing to volunteer to have training, they will not turn any volunteers away at this point. They just want volunteers to pick up quickly on a few key things to notice and to have a comfortable level for keeping an eye out for those seeking shelter.
With the cost of heating rising and other issues, the need for a a warm place to stay overnight can be thrust upon anyone during the winter, not just homeless people.
“We want people to see these places as a safe, adequate place to find heat for anyone in need,” Peters said.
Peters noted it is difficult to get a true number of those who are actually homeless in the area, but he said they are out there and he hopes community members keep an eye out for those dealing with the cold and direct them to the warming center.
“There is nothing worse than being cold and a person thinking they have no place to go,” Peters said.
Hancock County Warming Center Information:
Open:
From 7 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Locations:
The Landing, 18 West South St (primary site)
Greenfield Christian Church 23 North East Street.
Evangel Church 1221 East Main Street.
Alternative Location:
Hancock Hope House 35 East Pierson, Greenfield. (Check with signs posted at Kenneth Butler Soup Kitchen by going there for evening meal).
Parameters:
Temp below 30 degrees or wind chill below 20, with flexibility with things like precipitation.
Who is welcome?
Not just for homeless. Anyone without safe adequate heat. Some places will be open every night through mid-March.
Anyone wishing to volunteer at the warming center please call Peters at (317) 372-2304.
New Meeting for COAD and EMA Groups:
The EMA volunteer group and the Hancock County COAD will start meeting together. The two groups are each refocusing their training and activities in order to work more closely together.
Meetings will consist of training appropriate to the groups’ roles during a disaster. Meetings held the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Emergency Operations Center, 640 South Franklin Street, Greenfield. The public is encouraged to attend.
First meeting is Thursday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m.
