Group seeks donations for warming center

By Jacksonville Journal-Courier

A group using a portion of a Jacksonville church as a place for the homeless to escape the elements is seeking donations of time and various materials for the shelter.

Training for volunteers will be Saturday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church. New Directions of Jacksonville has partnered with the church to set up a warming center that may develop into a cooling center in the summer.

Two unused rooms at the church will be used to house men and women separately and a third room will be used as a common area.

To help equip the shelter, New Directions is seeking donations of the following items:

• 12 heavy-duty cots, preferable vinyl.
• A microwave.
• A refrigerator.
• A coffee pot.
• Two locking file cabinets.
• Laundry detergent and softener (hypo-allergenic).
• Towels and washcloths
• A broom/mop/vacuum
• Three plastic, 30-gallon garbage cans with lids.
• Hygiene bags, which includes travel-size shampoo, conditioner, body soap, toothbrushes and tooth paste, razor and comb.
• Use of a copy machine.
• 100 two-gallon Zip-Loc bags.
• An alarm for a double door.
• Doorbell for social room.
• Window coverings (plastic film).
• Two couches.
• Ten folding chairs.
• Banquet-size long table.
• Shelf-life food, such as peanut butter, cookies, etc.
• Coffee, sugar, creamer
• Paper goods (toilet paper, paper towel, cups, plates, sanitary napkins, plastic gloves.
• Adult and children supply activities such as coloring books, magazines, dominos, checkers.
• Motivational posters.
• Four standing shelves that contain cubby holes to store eyeglasses, etc. (overnight).
• Lock box to place in refrigerator for prescriptions.
• Signage for New Directions on entrance.
• Computer and computer desk for job search and resumes.
• Cleaning supplies such as Lysol wipes, window cleaner, dish soap, hand soap (for each sink area) with childproof locking file cabinet.
• First aid kit.
• Paint for social room, possibly a beige light green.
• Washer and dryer hookup.
• Bottled water.

To contact New Directions for donations or to volunteer, call (217) 883-7868 or (217) 473-0434.

Reproduced as appeared in Jacksonville Journal-Courier on January 28, 2011.