Cape Warming Center searching for shelter – or risk operating outside
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – The Cape Warming Center is in need of community help as cold temperatures are scheduled to hit the area, but they currently don’t have a building to help serve those who need it the most.
Tara Lang is the Volunteer Coordinator of the Cape Warming Center. The center provides an overnight shelter and a meal whenever temperatures drop below freezing to those facing homelessness. According to Lang their current arrangement with Grace Church ended in March. Now the warming center doesn’t have a building and freezing temperatures are just days away.
“Right now, we are looking at, sheltering with our neighbors out on the lawn here at Grace UMC” says Lang. “So emergency tents would be great, emergency sleeping bags. They make sleeping bags that help protect you from the weather underneath. Some donations or loans of fire pits.”
Lang shares that the only other option they currently have is to camp out with neighbors in need, to ensure that no one is facing the cold alone. Currently the center is in desperate need of a building as they serve up to 50 people a night at times, and they are actively looking for a permeant space.
To finish out the last few days of winter Lang says they can make any space big enough work.
“A building would be fabulous then we wouldn’t have to be outside, and you know, right now it doesn’t even have to have the kitchen and the things that we would need going forward. We could do those things over the summer and make modifications if it’s a permanent location, but even something temporary would be fine” says Lang.
Hot dogs and Hot Chocolate donations are also needed.
Lang and other organizers say they are prepared to face the cold temperatures with those in need, as no one should be left alone to face harsh weather conditions.
“We’re going to figure it out. We’re going to stay warm together and, we just don’t think that any body needs to be doing that alone. These could be your children. They could be your brothers and sisters, your mom and dad and we want to take care of them, just like Jesus would have taken care of us” says Lang.
