Warming center open until Saturday

Photo provided

The warming center at First United Methodist Church Family Life Center, 500 N. Main St., Poplar Bluff, is open and will remain open until Saturday.

No one came to the warming center Wednesday, said Carl Brown, a peer support specialist at FCC Behavioral Health.

“We are most defiantly staying open until Saturday,” said Brown, who describes the facility as “real cozy.”

Brown explained, everything anyone will need is available. Cots and bedding are available.

Hot vegetable soup, cornbread, sandwiches and cold snacks are ready for those who come to the shelter.

All anyone needs to bring is a change of clothes, Brown said.

The church has two showers for men and women, Brown said.

When threats of an ice and snow storm became a reality, the Methodist church, Butler County Emergency Management Agency, Mt. Calvary Powerhouse Church and FCC Behavioral Health decided to sponsor the center.

Donations of sheets, blankets and hygiene items are needed. Due to COVID, new items may be used. Financial contributions can be made out to Mt. Calvary Powerhouse Church.

Bishop Ronnie Webb of Mt. Calvary explained his church and FCC Behavioral Health worked together to provide a warming center during a past ice storm.

Webb said he talked with Dr. Kirby Turner, who is helping spearhead the warming center. Turner contacted the United Methodist Church staff.

While EMA will provide the cots, new bedding, sheets, blankets, comforts, pillows will be needed because of COVID.

“It has to be new items,” said Webb. “We’re looking for donations for new blankets and, you know, comforters and sheets. And it has to be new items. It can’t be any used items. We’re gathering together and pooling resources for food so our cooks can be here and have a big, fresh pot of soup and sandwiches for anyone who comes in.”

The group also is asking the community for toiletries.

Anyone or any business who wants to donate is asked to make checks payable to Mt. Calvary Powerhouse, whose staff will be doing the shopping.

Donations also may be dropped off at Mt. Calvary.

Webb is inviting other churches or individuals to join in the efforts.

No pets are allowed at the warming center. For more information about the warming center, call or text 573-429-9369.

While some may need to go to the warming center, others may want to stay in their homes, but need assistance.

For those folks, Bread Shed Executive Director Jim Ward said, “We don’t have beds, we’re not a homeless shelter.”

During the last ice storm, Ward said, “we got with the police and they called us when they had situations. We are not a place to sleep overnight. However, we did assist families. We helped with food, we helped with heaters, we helped with some transportation, we helped with diapers, we just did what we could do. We help people like we always do.”

Ward said it is a lot better when law enforcement drives the bus.

“They see people, they bring people to us, and we help them from there,” Ward said. “We are willing to do any and everything as far as we can do it.”

Once Ward receives a call about a certain need, “we go to Facebook and say, ‘we need this or we need that.’ It’s crazy how many people were willing to give us a heater, give us blankets. We have such a giving community, praise the Lord.”

Area residents who want to assist with providing for the homeless may drop off donations at the police station.

Poplar Bluff Patrolman Molly Johns suggested anyone wishing to help the homeless may bring donations to the front desk of the police station.

“Let them know that you’re there wanting to donate,” Johns said. “We’ve got a little area we put stuff and officers will grab a few blankets. If they’ve run out of them in their cars, they’ll grab a few, throw them in the patrol car and as we see people out walking around, we’ll try to give them out to them.”

Donations of blankets, spare coats, gloves, mittens and hats may be distributed to homeless individuals.

“We don’t want stuff that’s in terrible condition or that you wouldn’t put it on your own body,” Johns said.

Johns suggests donating bottled water, Gatorade and other products that at least keep them hydrated, little snack bags, nonperishable items and canned goods with pop-tops.