MANSFIELD – Extremely cold temperatures throughout the region have prompted the need for public warming shelters to guard against dangerous weather.
Public shelters and warming centers will be open in downtown Mansfield at St. Luke’s Point of Grace Church at 2 Marion Avenue, and at Reaching Out Ministries at 30 S. Mulberry Street. The church will be open starting at 6 p.m. while Reaching Out Ministries will open at 7 p.m.
Shelter was first offered on Thursday evening at First Christian Church in Mansfield as temperatures dipped into the single digits overnight, not to mention windchill. Richland County EMA Deputy Director Rick Evans emphasized the need for shelter especially for those homeless in Mansfield during the upcoming stretch of freezing weather.
“Put yourself in someone’s situation where you’re outside: Would you like to be warm?” he said. “Some people might even have a house, but they may not have heat.”
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures are expected to dip down to 12 degrees on Friday night with a 100 percent chance of snow. Saturday night will be even colder, with a low around -1 and wind chill values as low as -13 degrees.
Evans advised extreme caution should be used for anyone going outside over the weekend, as frostbite is a serious concern.
“Having exposed skin with the wind blowing, you don’t even realize you have frostbite sometimes,” Evans said. “When you freeze like that, it could require medical intervention. Stay warm, and keep hydrated.”
Richland Public Health also warns residents about the dangers of hypothermia, or dangerously low body temperature. Hypothermia occurs when more heat escapes from your body than your body can produce.
Common causes are prolonged exposure to cold air or water temperatures. Signs and symptoms of hypothermia may include gradual loss of mental and physical abilities. Severe hypothermia can lead to death.
It is this concern that rings in the head of Angie Henke, founder of Reaching Out Ministries, a nonprofit group with the goal of helping citizens in need with basic everyday needs.
“In the work we do, we know a few homeless people in Richland County, and when I saw the story about the man who froze to death in Cincinnati that really worried me,” Henke said.
Henke and a group of volunteers decided to make Reaching Out Ministries an official warming station after Thursday night’s bitter cold. The shelter has heat, blankets, food, and cots donated by the Red Cross. Pets are also allowed.
“We might not have the Ritz or the Carlton, but it’s warm and it has love and the community is stepping up and working together so we don’t have anyone freeze to death,” Henke said.
Other items donated by individuals have been blankets, hats, scarves, food, toiletries, a pizza delivered last night and homemade chili and pulled pork tonight.
“It’s so cold, and we’re blessed to have places to go that’s warm,” Henke said.
Reaching Out Ministries is looking for volunteers from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. and 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. at the warming station for as long as temperatures stay this frigid. Those interested can contact Henke at 419-612-2217.
St. Luke’s Point of Grace Church at the corner of Marion Avenue and Park Avenue West will officially open at 6 p.m. No pets are allowed at the church, and no firearms are allowed at either shelter. Any additional questions can be answered by calling 211.
