During the past week of cold weather, the Sedalia Warming Shelter at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 415 E. Fourth St., has been providing a respite from the bitter chill.
The shelter has been open 24 hours a day since 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11. As of Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 16, the 24-hour operation is expected to continue through Sunday morning, Jan. 21.
JoAnn Martin with the warming shelter said it is a bit crowded but is operating as intended.
The shelter opens when the wind chill is 15 degrees or lower, or when the “real-feel” temperature is 30 degrees with a 50% chance of precipitation. When the weather is dangerously cold for several days, the shelter remains open 24 hours a day.
“They've been going fairly well,” Martin told the Democrat on Tuesday, Jan. 16. “Most of our guests have been with us for extended periods of time. I think the most we've had is 12 or 13, which is a pretty high number for us here at the shelter.”
The warming shelter sees between five and eight guests on most cold evenings, but the recent sub-zero blast of cold weather sent more people seeking refuge from the chill.
“It is harder to keep the shelter operating 24 hours a day,” Martin admitted. “We do have volunteer teams. Most of the time, we operate the shelter with six volunteers; two volunteers for a four-hour shift for three shifts, but when we go to 24 hours a day, that requires more volunteers, it requires more resources.”
Hot coffee is usually on a warmer and cots and blankets are always available for those just needing to rest. Food is also available through funding from Catholic Charities and gracious donors across the community.
“That has allowed us to purchase breakfast sandwiches at Hardee's and then lunch is provided through Open Door Cafe and dinner is provided through Community Café,” Martin said. “People have been very generous with wanting to donate blankets, coats, those kinds of things.”
There is no storage in the basement at St. Pat’s, and Martin asks those wanting to help to contribute directly to the Open Door Service Center, 111 W. Sixth St.
“They will help distribute clothing, coats, blankets, those kinds of things,” Martin said.
Like everywhere in the Midwest, the dangerously cold weather is a lively topic of conversation at the Sedalia warming shelter.
“It is the big conversation all over town,” Martin said. “People have been struggling with the cold, even those who are housed who have their own homes are struggling trying to keep their house warm. I'm sure people are going to be very concerned about their utility bills next month.”
Martin noted some poorly insulated homes in Sedalia are unable to maintain a comfortable temperature.
“They're older homes. They were built before we had such an emphasis on keeping these insulated, they may not have the best windows,” Martin said. “So, in general, this cold snap is very hard on everyone, both those folks who are housed and those folks who unfortunately don't have a permanent place to live.”
Though nearly full each night recently, Martin said the warming shelter hasn’t had to turn anyone away.
“If there's a need for more cots, we have the ability to gather more cots,” Martin said. “We have plenty of blankets, clothes, sheets, those kinds of things. We've had some very generous donations from hotels.”
Bothwell Regional Health Center donated gently used blankets and there is even an offer to wash the bedding when needed.
“We've been blessed to have enough bedding and then we are also blessed that the State Fair Motor Inn, it has been kind enough to help us with the laundry,” Martin added.
But just because the warming shelter at St. Pat’s was able to handle the people who sought refuge this time, Martin warns winter isn’t over yet.
“It looks like we may have a one-day reprieve from the cold weather,” Martin said, “but then Thursday night, it swoops back down again and Friday and Saturday are looking quite cold again with below-zero temperatures.”
According to the National Weather Service, Wednesday, Jan. 17 will see a high near 33 and a low around 21, but wind chill values will be between -5 and 5. There is a 20% chance of snow after midnight. Winds will be 9 to 16 mph with gusts as high as 31 mph.
The high on Thursday, Jan. 18 will be near 33 and the low around 5, along with a 40% chance of snow before midnight. Winds will increase in the evening, with speeds ranging from 15 to 20 mph and 29 mph wind gusts.
Friday, Jan. 19 will see temps plummet again, with a high near 10 and a low around -5. Saturday, Jan. 20 will have a high near 14 and a low around 5.
While winter temperatures will remain, the cold snap looks like it will end Sunday, Jan. 21, with a high near 34 and a low around 27. Monday, Jan. 22 has a forecasted high of 41 and a low around 36. A 40% chance of rain Monday increases to 70% Monday night. Tuesday, Jan. 23 will again see temperatures in the 40s with a 50% chance of rain.
It may be next week before what Martin calls “life-threatening temperatures” completely pass, but she is proud of the work the community has done to provide a warm sanctuary for those who need it.
“This has certainly been a community-wide effort,” Martin said. “It's based here at St. Patrick's Chapel within St. Vincent DePaul parish, but if you look at who the volunteers are, they come from a wide variety of churches. We have a workplace that has contributed a team, the United Way has contributed a team. It is definitely a community event that could not happen if it was only from St. Vincent DePaul, so we are grateful and I hope everyone who has volunteered to help here is warmed by the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped save lives.”
Chris Howell can be reached at 660-530-0146.
