The area’s homeless population must soon find refuge on their own during the day despite bitter cold temperatures and a Cold Weather Advisory in place in the region through Thursday morning.
Last night, 37 people stayed at the designated overnight cold-weather shelter at First Baptist Church in Waynesboro, and they were allowed to stay there during the day today, according to Waynesboro Area Refuge Ministry Executive Director Alec Gunn.
As the saying goes, however, all good things must come to an end.
Gunn said that those who stay overnight may stay until 10 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday as the 24/7 shelter will no longer be available. The overnight shelter typically closes at 7 a.m. daily so homeless individuals will have an extra three hours each day at the church before they must find somewhere else to stay warm.
The forecasted high temperature on Wednesday is 23 degrees; on Thursday, it is 34 degrees. At 10 a.m. on Wednesday, the temperature is projected to be 12 degrees; on Thursday at 10 a.m., it will be 23 degrees.
ICYMI
Gunn told AFP that public places, like the library, post office or City Hall, are often where homeless individuals who do not have jobs go to stay warm during the day until the shelter opens its doors again at approximately 5:30 p.m.
WARM’s cold-weather shelter provides an overnight respite to homeless individuals in Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta County. The shelter rotates between churches in the area, and transportation is available to and from the shelter each day.
First Baptist Church in Waynesboro is the host site of the shelter through Jan. 26. Beginning Jan. 27, it moves to Westminster Presbyterian Church for one week.
During a previous cold spell when the shelter was at a Staunton church, the City of Staunton allowed WARM to use its gymnasium at Gypsy Hill Park during the day. No dedicated space has been announced for WARM’s use in Waynesboro.
For more information, visit warmwaynesboro.org
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Crystal Graham
