KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — Local communities have set up warming shelters and overnight shelters to help those who need the help to stay warm.
Kalamazoo has the First Congregational and the First Baptist downtown. There is also the Gospel Mission.
The City of Battle Creek will be opening its fire stations and police headquarters this week as warming shelters.
There are also homeless shelters and churches making room and making meals. It’s the same story in Allegan County where each community has one or two buildings that will be opened to make sure no one has to spend outside in the cold.
We have a complete list below:
—BATTLE CREEK—
- Battle Creek Fire Department – Fire Stations 1-6 will be open to the public for anyone needing a temporary respite from the cold. Check in with a fire station 24 hours a day, Tuesday to Thursday, and police will escort neighbors to a designated warming shelter. Station 1, 195 E. Michigan Ave.; Station 2, 145 N. Washington Ave.; Station 3, 222 Cliff St.; Station 4, 8 S. 20th St.; Station 5, 1170 W. Michigan Ave.; Station 6, 2401 Capital Ave. SW
- Battle Creek Police Department, 34 N. Division St. – The front lobby will be open and monitored 24 hours a day, Tuesday to Thursday, for anyone needing to get out of the cold. Officers also will make contact with anyone they see walking during this time, to ensure they are safe and able to get where they are going.
- Battle Creek Transit – For anyone using the bus to get to the First Congregational Church warming shelter Tuesday to Thursday, drivers will transport those neighbors at no cost, during regular bus operations, until 6:45 p.m.
- The Haven, 11 Green St. – 24-hour dry shelter, and wet shelter extended hours. Will provide a shuttle to the SHARE Center and, if needed, to First Congregational Church.
- SHARE Center, 120 Grove St. – Day shelter, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- First Congregational Church, 145 Capital Ave. NE – 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; warming center with meal provided Wednesday at 6 p.m.; will provide overnight shelter if needed. 10 N. Division St. Suite 206 Battle Creek Michigan 49014 Phone (269) 966-3378 Fax (269)966-6654 www.battlecreekmi.gov
- Kingdom Builders World Wide, 50 Spencer St. – Overnight hours, 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., Tuesday to Wednesday.
Please note that the point-in-time homeless county scheduled for this week has been canceled, due to the weather. The community will conduct the count on Feb. 6 instead.
Community shelters are seeking blanket, coat, hat, and glove donations, and First Congregational is seeking food and water donations.
We urge everyone to stay inside as much as possible this week, and to avoid shoveling snow during Wednesday’s extreme cold temperatures.
—ALLEGAN —
- Camp Beechpoint (3212 125th Ave, Allegan, MI 49010) Warming Center Hours: Tuesday 10:00 – Friday morning. Beds, blankets, and meals are included.
- First Presbyterian Church (200 Cutler Street, Allegan, MI 49010) Warming Center Hours: Tuesday 10:00 – Friday morning. Wednesday free lunch will be offered as usual. Beds, blankets, and meal are included.
- First Congregational Church (323 Cutler St, Allegan, MI 49010) Church Phone: (269) 673-3139 Warming center hours: Tuesday 8:00 pm to 8:00 am Wednesday, Wednesday 8:00 pm to 8:00 am Thursday, Thursday 8:00 pm to 8:00 am Friday. Thursday dinner will be offered as usual. Beds, blankets provided.
—PULLMAN—
- The Linking Center (943 56th Street Pullman MI) Warming center hours: Tuesday 9:00 am through services Thursday night. Beds, blankets and meals provided.
—ALLEGAN DAYTIME WARMING CENTERS—
- First Baptist Allegan (1290 32nd St, Allegan, MI 49010) Warming center hours: Wednesday 11:00 am – 6:00 pm Thursday 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Eligibility Requirements for all the shelters:
No smoking in building
No alcohol/drugs
No weapons
No pets
Plainwell Public Safety will be opening the public safety building as a warming station from now through this Saturday, February 2nd. They are located at 119 Island Ave. (off Allegan St- M89 by the old paper mill). They can be reached by phone at 269-685-9858 if you need assistance getting to the warming station.
The Saugatuck Fire District will be a temporary warming shelter 24/7 until Friday 2/1/19 at 5:00pm.
