2 minute read
A Community Partnering to Keep Everyone Warm
By Karen Hammond
We all need a safe warm place to spend the night and sleep. People in Paducah-McCracken County can be sheltered thanks to a collaborative effort of community partners.
Advertisement
Washington Street Baptist Church hosts what is usually referred to as the warming center. It's open during the winter months from November 2021 through March 2022. The warming center is located at 739 Washington Street, a property next door to the main building. It welcomes anyone on nights when the low temperature is 40° or below.
For the past several years the warming center had been operated by Community Kitchen, a local non-profit organization. This year they contacted the United Way of Paducah-McCracken County to let them know they would be unable to host this service.
The United Way, including its Americorps VISTA worker sponsored by Mercy Health, Healthy Paducah, Baptist Health, Housing Authority of Paducah, and STAY at Paducah Public Schools worked together to identify and recruit a host site and offer support services.
Community Kitchen, Heartland Church, Paducah Cooperative Ministry (PCM), and First Baptist Church made financial contributions to offset start-up, operational costs. With this collaborative foundation in place, Washington Street Baptist Church leadership voted to host this season’s warming center.
Just Walk-In
Those who need shelter can walk up to 739 Washington Street, to the left of Washington Street Baptist Church. The Purchase Area District Health Department and Paducah Fire Department recommend a 20 person capacity so entry is on a first-come, first-served basis between 5:30pm and 10pm. Guests must depart between 6:30am and 8:30am.
The church encourages those who stay at the center to bring a photo ID for registration, but it is not required. Wild Health provides rapid COVID-19 testing to reduce the virus’s spread. The warming center does not have the capacity to isolate positive individuals and they will not be allowed to enter. Paducah Police officers screen guests to ensure public safety.
The warming center has a TV and free Wi-Fi. Mercy Health is providing flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines during check-in.
How You Can Help
Volunteers are urgently needed to keep the center open, safe, and running. The first shift is from 5:30pm to 10pm. Three or four volunteers are needed to welcome guests, register them and then give them a tour of the facilities. Volunteers assign guests a cot and make sure they have a meal or snack.
The second shift for volunteers is 10pm – 7:30am. Again, three to four volunteers are needed on this shift. Please note that at least two must be awake at all times to ensure safety and to meet the needs of the guests.
Donations of food, personal items, and toiletries will also be of great assistance. If you can help with this effort please create a free profile with the United Way’s platform, VolunteerPaducah.org.
Operating the center will increase the church’s utility and security costs. The warming center needs are listed by searching for Washington Street Baptist Church on that site or by using this quick link: tinyurl.com/wsbcwarmingctr.
Other ways you can help include cooking dinner or breakfast and/or serving it. At present, the center is only offering snacks and Grab n Go bags of food provided by PCM and other organizations such as The Paducah Fire Department.
