Correction: Brentwood Christian Church will serve as an overflow shelter Jan. 14-16. The original version of this story listed an incorrect start date. To access shelter at any of the overflow shelters, individuals must sign-up at 5:30 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church.
Since Springfield’s Crisis Cold Weather Shelter program has been at or near capacity in recent weeks. Organizers are making plans to open “overflow” shelter sites to ensure unsheltered people have access to a warm place to sleep during the arctic blast predicted to hit the Ozarks this weekend.
Springfield’s Crisis Cold Weather Shelter program is a network of sites that open on nights when the forecast calls for overnight temperatures to drop to 32 degrees or colder. The shelters are primarily housed in places of worship throughout Springfield and are staffed by volunteers who take turns working and sleeping.
Normally, there are about seven or eight shelter sites open and capable of providing a warm place to sleep on freezing nights.
Beginning Friday, Jan. 12, overflow shelters will open at Venues 425 and St. John's Chapel United Church of Christ. Brentwood Christian Church will open as an overflow shelter Jan. 14-16.
People seeking shelter at these overflow shelter sites must go to Grace United Methodist Church at 5:30 p.m. during the free evening meal and sign up. They will then be transported to the appropriate shelter site via City Utilities bus.
Overflow shelters open when temperatures get especially cold, explained Emily Fessler with Community Partnership of the Ozarks. Friday night’s overnight temperature is predicted to dip as low as 11 degrees. Monday night’s overnight temperatures are predicted to dip as low as 6 degrees below zero.
“With new shelters opening their doors, we do have a great need for volunteers,” Fessler said.
“When we have cold snaps like this, the temperatures become really dangerous, even during the day,” Fessler said in an email. “The ability of shelters to be able to open is critical. There are individuals who may not normally seek shelter on a night that hovers around freezing, but if temperatures start to drop into the teens or fall into the negative, that means that we have many more individuals motivated to seek shelter.
“Having new shelters open their doors means that we need more volunteers to jump in and provide hospitality, clean-up and even stay overnight,” Fessler continued. “This is a great opportunity for individuals who are interested in volunteering at the Crisis Cold Weather Shelters but can’t commit to doing it regularly. If individuals work during the week, then there is opportunity to get involved during the days on this coming weekend.”
Pastor Stephanie Scott-Huffman with St. John's Chapel United Church of Christ echoed that.
“We are still looking for volunteers, especially the overnight volunteers,” Scott-Huffman said. “There's other churches opening up, like Brentwood Christian Church. All of these are going to need volunteers. They are also going to need donations as well — snacks, coffee, hot chocolate, that kind of thing. We go through a lot of that each night. If people want to donate, there's many ways to do that.”
Want to help?
The biggest volunteer need is for those who can spend the night at shelter sites. Overnight volunteers work in pairs and take turns sleeping.
For those who cannot spend the night, there are a variety of other volunteer opportunities. Volunteers are needed to greet guests in the evening and for those who can help tidy up in the mornings. Volunteers are needed to help with laundry and prepare and/or serve the evening meals.
To learn more about volunteering at any of the shelter sites, visit the Crisis Cold Weather Shelters website, or fill out the volunteer interest form.
Some of the shelter sites have their own volunteer sign up forms:
Find the Cooperative Crisis Cold Weather Shelter at the Fairbanks volunteer form here.
Find St. John’s UCC overflow shelter (open Jan. 12-18 only) volunteer form here.
Donations of ground coffee, hand warmers and packaged snacks (including Kraft Easy Mac and instant noodles) can be dropped off at Kaleidoscope, 1430 E. Sunshine St.
Need shelter?
Through March, a free dinner is served every night at 5:30 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, 600 S. Jefferson Ave.
On nights when the temperature is predicted to drop below 32 degrees, shelter sign-up and transportation to the different shelter sites across Springfield will also happen at Grace UMC starting at 5:30 p.m.
Download the ShelterSGF App to receive daily notifications on shelter open/closed status.
