Cooling center faces AC challenges after vandalism

CARBONDALE, Ill. (KBSI) – For many people, this week’s heat is an inconvenience, but for others it can be a life-threatening emergency to find shelter. That’s why it’s crucial that the Carbondale Warming Center continues to be able to provide cooling for those who need it the most. 

Teneshkia Wright is the Executive Director of the Carbondale Warming Center.  According to Wright the Carbondale Warming Center serves as a 24-hour warming and cooling shelter for those facing homelessness, currently the shelter has around 28 people but do to unfortunate circumstances Wright says she’s unsure how long they can continue to stay open with a working AC unit.   

 “We had two units, that have been vandalized” says Wright.  “The units in the back of our building has been severely vandalized, and it’s the city’s building, and they will not put any more money into the building. So, I’ve just been outsourcing or trying to research, find donations or people that are willing to help us with the units.” 

Wright saying the shelter houses children, seniors, and everyone else in need, and with a heat wave hitting the area donations are desperately needed to keep people with nowhere to go safe and cool.

So, if they want to donate, we have give butter, which is online, and you can always send checks to 608 East College Carbondale, Illinois, 62901 and you can make them out to the Carbondale Warming Center. You can send it by mail. You can come and drop it off because there’s someone here all day to receive that and we are taking paper products, paper plates, cups, instant oatmeal, you know, like instant macaroni, things like that. We can kind of send out with the folks that they can maybe warm up or just eat cold cut sandwiches, you know, whatever salads, cold things” says Wright.

To donate: Carbondale Warming Center Donations