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Sikeston warming center seeks urgent support for winter needs
SIKESTON — Spread Hope Now Warming Center in Sikeston reopened on Sunday, Dec. 1, and it’s in need of donations for the cold winter and volunteers.
Warming centers are temporary emergency shelters that open when the weather becomes dangerously inclement due to precipitation, wind chill, or a combination of these factors.
According to Mari Ann Moyers, director of Spread Hope Now, when temperatures drop below 32 degrees for two days in a row, their doors will be open from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., and they will lock the doors at 10 a.m.
The warming center is located at 915 S. Kingshighway in Sikeston, and Moyers said there are many things they are needing for this winter.
“We always need individually packaged snacks, and we could always use paper goods, water and blankets,” Moyers said.
According to Moyers, they had an outpouring of blankets last year, but they ran out of blankets fast.
“We also have a lot of families that aren’t homeless that don’t have any heat at all,” Moyers said. “It’s not adequate for them so their families are so cold at night if they don’t have heat at all so we give out blankets all the time. Even though we had many blankets last year, we go out of them fast so we are always needing blankets and people can also donate pillows.”
Moyers said there are certain types of snacks that the Warming Center prefers for people to donate.
“We like to give out things that are kind of hearty,” Moyers said as she listed some items. “Beef jerky, peanut butter crackers, protein or granola bars that we can pack in their backpacks or that they can take with them during the day.”
Moyers said while staying at the Warming Center, individuals will receive a home cooked meal, as well as the option to shower and do their laundry. Moyers said people can donate food for the breakfast and hygiene items.
“They always will have a hot breakfast,” Moyers said. “Sausage, eggs, things like that, and we also provide hygiene items for people to shower and do laundry.”
Moyers said they are constantly looking for volunteers
“We are always looking for volunteers,” Moyers said. “Volunteers for hospitality who will come in, greet people and help clean up. We also are always needing volunteers to help fix breakfast in the mornings and to help do laundry.”
According to Moyers, volunteers need to arrive between 6 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. Moyers said they do not take in children at the Warming Center but they do take in men and women.
“We can take in a total of between 13 to 15 people comfortably, and we provide cots, pillows, and blankets,” Moyers said.
Moyers said there are volunteers that will stay overnight when the Warming Center is open, but their qualifications are that they must be male and they should contact the Warming Center to sign up.
Donations to the warming center can be dropped off at the Spread Hope Now Donation Center, located at 943 S. Kingshighway. Mail monetary donations to: P.O. Box 1991, Sikeston, MO 63801.