Warming center in Sikeston opens doors for those in need

Gina Williams/Standard Democrat Ada Johnson, a volunteer with Spread Hope Now’s Warming Center in Sikeston, prepares breakfast the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, for those who have sought shelter this week at the Warming Center. A wind chill advisory is in effect from 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 to 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, according to the National Weather Service.

SIKESTON — Spread Hope Now Warming Center in Sikeston has been open through the night and will continue to do so until the frigid temperatures rise. 

This week, warming centers and shelters have opened across the state of Missouri as temperatures have been freezing and below-freezing.

Warming centers are temporary emergency shelters that open when the weather turns dangerously inclement due to precipitation, wind chill, wind or a combination of these factors. 

Th warming center, located at 915 S. Kingshighway in Sikeston, opened Friday, Jan. 12, according to Spread Hope Now Director Mari Ann Moyers.

According to Moyers, the center is only open at night, starting at 6 p.m. and then closing at 8 a.m. the next morning.

Gina Williams/Standard Democrat Tim Gilmore, a volunteer with Spread Hope Now’s Warming Center in Sikeston, takes out the trash after breakfast the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024.

“We aren’t open during the day, only at night, but we do pay for transit to take the people that stay at the warming center to a church so that they can stay there during the day,” Moyers said.  “So when the temperature is below 32 degrees for two consecutive nights, between December and to the end of February is when we are open.” 

According to Moyers, the center is currently accepting donations and are always in need of them.

“We have received an overwhelming response and been given coffee, pillows and blankets, but we could always use any type of donation,” Moyers said. “We can always use things like individually packaged snacks and warm gloves, sleeping bags and hats, just things like that.”

According to Moyers, even when the warming center is closed, Spread Hope Now will continue to distribute items to the homeless throughout the year. 

The warming center has two part-time directors, and the rest is managed by volunteers. Moyers also mentioned there are churches in the community who will volunteer to provide meals for a week.

“So the churches will sign up for a week to bring meals, and if they are on call that week and the warming center is open, then they will bring a homecooked meal so that everyone eats really well,” Moyers said. 

Moyers said that when the center is open at night, one or two volunteers usually come and spend the night.

“Every town just about has homeless people and people don’t always know that they are there, but they are,” Moyers said. “And us providing them shelter on the coldest nights, that keeps them alive.

Moyers continued: “One of the things we like to do is connect people with community resources, so if they would like to start getting out of their situation, they can then have a long-term solution.”

Donations to the warming center can be dropped off at the Spread Hope Now Donation Center, located at 943 S. Kingshighway, from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and Saturdays. Mail monetary donations to: P.O. Box 1991, Sikeston, MO 63801.