Local churches, homeless service providers, and the Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability (OHS) are partnering to open overnight warming centers for those living outside during the coldest days of the year.
The OHS has coordinated with four churches across Knoxville and Knox County to provide a warm place for homeless neighbors to sleep if temperatures fall to dangerously cold levels. Additional church communities interested in joining the effort may contact OHS at
[email protected].
Schedules and temperature thresholds vary by site, and volunteers are needed to deliver
meals, set up cots, check people in, or stay overnight. Volunteers will be needed between Jan. 1 and 15, 2024.
If you would like to donate supplies to this effort, the following items are needed:
Used or new: sleeping bags, bedding (especially comforters) and scrubs of all sizes.
New only: toiletries, socks and underwear.
To
donate, please contact Knox Area Rescue Ministries at (865) 673-6540 or by email
at
[email protected].
Anyone in need of a warming center should contact KPD’s non-emergency line to find the nearest location: (865)
215-4010.
If you would like to volunteer for this
community-wide effort, please contact 211 or the Knoxville-Knox County Office
of Housing Stability at [email protected].