We also a list of warming shelters throughout Southwest and Southside Virginia. Share with your friends and family who don’t have power during the winter storm.
With continued freezing temperatures and the risk of more flurries, Lynchburg officials and the Salvation Army are seeking volunteers to help run a local warming center.
The city is managing an overflow shelter, located in the Salvation Army’s gym. It will be open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. every night this weekend, and is planned to close Monday morning.
Meanwhile, the Salvation Army is continuing its normal daytime and overnight services at its Center of Hope building on Park Avenue. The dining room serves as the warming center, where breakfast, lunch and dinner are offered daily, said Maj. Bret McElroy, executive director of Lynchburg’s Salvation Army.
Both locations are in need of volunteers to keep services running smoothly, McElroy said. Volunteers assist with general supervision of the warming centers and help make sure the space feels welcoming and the guests feel supported, he said.
The volunteer sign-up links for two-hour Salvation Army shifts and six-hour shifts at the city’s overflow shelter are both available online. More volunteer information can be found on the Salvation Army’s website.
No prior experience is needed to volunteer, and staff from the Salvation Army and the city’s human services department are present on-site, at their respective locations, for each shift.
“We’re so grateful for the continued compassion and generosity shown by our community during this winter season,” said April Watson, deputy director of human services, in a city press release. “This is a meaningful opportunity for individuals or groups to come together, serve side-by-side, and make a direct impact in the lives of our neighbors.”
The city-run overflow shelter was operated 24/7 by human services staff from Jan. 23 to Jan. 28 before switching to the volunteer-supported model on Thursday, when the city council voted to end Lynchburg’s state of emergency and city staff began scaling back emergency responses. By that time, the overflow shelter had served 30 men, eight women, and one family, said Preston Sellers, the director of human services, at a city council work session.