From the Cleveland Daily Banner: The “warming shelter” provided by the Salvation Army Cleveland for those needing a warm and safe place to stay wi
From the Cleveland Daily Banner: The “warming shelter” provided by the Salvation Army Cleveland for those needing a warm and safe place to stay will open for the first time for the upcoming cold weather season Wednesday evening.
Sgt. Ruthie Forgey of the Salvation Army told the Cleveland Daily Banner that the shelter can be open from Nov. 1 through April 1, and this year, it will open on the first available day.
“We open the warming shelter when we know it will be below 32 degrees for two straight hours,” Forgey said, “and we are open from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on those days.”
She said that is why it was not open Tuesday night, as the temperatures were not predicted to be under 32 degrees.
“And it may be in the 40s at 6 p.m. Wednesday, but will drop under 32 degrees for the two hours during the night and early morning, so we will open,” Forgey explained.
Forgey said the shelter will accommodate up to 14 individuals, who will be provided an assigned bed, be fed dinner, a snack and have breakfast before leaving. She said the shelter will only hold that number of people, but said she does not remember ever having to turn anyone away last year.
The Salvation Army provides sub zero sleeping bags for those in need, many who will keep them in provided lockers at the Inman Street center. Those sleeping bags are also used on the beds in the center, which helps save on linens.
Even if there is not room for more than 14 at the center, those not able to stay will be given a subzero sleeping bag to help them brave the cold wherever they have to stay.
“We can always use donations of these sleeping bags, or monetary donations that we can use to purchase them,” Forgey said. “We can’t continue to provide these items without the community’s help.”
Forgey said she can’t predict how the weather will be following Wednesday night/Thursday night, but decisions are made based on the Weather.com app, which they check each day during the cold temperatures.
In other Salvation Army news, with the wintertime approaching, so too does the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign, which will kickoff Thursday evening at the Peerless Road Church of God of Prophecy.
The national campaign will get a boost when Tennessee’s own Dolly Parton will perform during the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Kickoff Halftime Show during the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game against the Washington Commanders, airing on CBS on Thursday, Nov. 23.
Area civic clubs, businesses, churches, and individuals and families will once again be volunteering to help ring the Salvation Army bells at area sites beginning in November.
