Help needed at warming center

What if you were living in a trailer with no heat, or perhaps in your car or just on the street in Durango and the nighttime temperature was frigid … in fact, life-threateningly cold? The Emergency Warming Center will be open Dec. 1 - Feb. 28, from 6 p.m.-7 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, at the corner of East 5th Avenue and 3rd Street (254 E. 5th Ave). Warm food and drink as well as cots and blankets and a caring and supportive volunteer staff will be awaiting those in La Plata County who do not have a warm and safe place to be. The Emergency Warming Center is a collaborative effort with the City of Durango, the American Red Cross, Manna, Neighbors in Need Alliance (NINA) and the Interfaith Alliance as well as concerned citizens. Because the warming center is completely volunteer-dependent, we will only open when the outside temperature is predicted to be 15 degrees F or lower.

Last winter, the first time there was a low-barrier nighttime warming center in Durango, we were able to provide shelter for more than 58 individuals on 19 of the coldest nights. 

The Emergency Warming Center is volunteer-dependent, and we look forward to our community stepping up to staff it this coming winter. All volunteers must attend a warming center orientation. It is an opportunity for those of us who have a warm and secure home to serve those amongst us who are housing vulnerable. 

There will be two orientations: Sat., Nov. 15, from 2-4 p.m. and Thurs., Nov. 20, from 6-8 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Parish Hall. For more information, please contact Mike at 304-290-4331 or email NINA at ninalliance62@gmail.com. 

Be part of our caring community in Durango.

– Linda Rolfing Barnes, Durango