As temperatures dropped last week, Pastor Pat Findley of First Baptist Church became concerned. Surprised to learn that Clinton has no overnight shelter for people who don’t have a heated place to sleep, he reached out to Clinton leaders, and convened a meeting last Friday.
“Once we got the right people in the room, it all came together in a few hours,” he said.
That night, the Warming Center opened in the First Baptist Church building on East Jefferson and Second, which houses the church offices, a kitchen with a dining/fellowship hall and a gym.
“We were ready and willing,” Pastor Pat said of the congregation, whose members are known for their compassionate ministries to their neighbors, including a free lunch program last summer.
Pat also contacted Brad Wright, director of Emergency Management, which took the lead in making the Warming Center possible once the ball got rolling.
“We put our plan in place and made it happen,” said Brad.
Brad has been director since last May of the Emergency Management Department, located in the old jail building on Washington Street. Emergency Management plans and prepares for any kind of emergency in the community, Brad said, including weather events.
“This is one of the things we wanted to see happen,” he said of having a facility that offers the public shelter during cold snaps.
The Warming Center is open for whoever needs it, Pat said, including people who have lost power or don’t have adequate heat in their homes. The center is stocked with card and board games, he said, so if a family needs a warm place to sleep, they can come and make themselves at home, he said.
The Red Cross sent a trailer of 40 cots, Pat said, which were set up in the gym. Not all the cots were needed, Pat said. Volunteers spread the word to first responders, posted notices online and went out in person to places in town where people who lack housing are known to gather.
The Warming Center only drew a handful of people who stayed overnight, Pat said, but others came to have a hot meal, warm up and charge their cell phones, he said.
Initially the center was organized to cover a few days in response to last weekend’s sub-zero temperatures, which sent the plans into crisis mode, Pat said. As temperatures remain frigid, the decision was made on Monday, Jan. 15, to keep the Warming Center another week. Needed are volunteers to help staff the shelter, which is open from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Volunteer coordinator Darren Huey posted this plea for a few more people to help staff the center:
“Due to the forecasted temperatures remaining dangerously cold overnight through the week, we are going to continue operating the overnight warming center through the night of Sunday, January 21,” Darren said. “Trying to sleep without heat inside or out is miserable, especially with these temps.”
If you are able to help, contact Darren at 660-492-6736. Any hours you can be at the center would help, Pat said.
Volunteers serve hot soup and send people who stay overnight out in the morning with a sack breakfast. Jan Sublette donated insulated mugs so that everyone also leaves with a hot beverage in hand. There are options in Clinton for people to get inside during the day, Pat said. The Warming Center was set up to fill a time slot that wasn’t covered until now, he said.
Folks at First Baptist Church are in it for as long as it’s needed, Pat said, noting the people from other churches have also volunteered to help.
“It’s a beautiful picture of people coming together to help other people who need it,” he said.
